cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chapter 3 – A Fresh Look at Semantic Natural Language Information Assurance and Security: NL IAS from Watermarking and Downgrading to Discovering Unintended Inferences and Situational Conceptual Defaults

This chapter introduces natural language information assurance and security (NL IAS), a new front in information security effort enabled by applying the Ontological Semantics approach to natural language processing to the existing and new applications. It reviews the earlier (1999–2004) application implementations, their increasing and expanding computational semantic foundations, and new advances (2010–2013). The thrust of the chapter is that access to comprehensive natural language meaning—incrementally approximating human understanding and based on the dedicated semantic resources, the language independent property rich ontology, and language-specific lexicons—is necessary for the design and implementation of high precision applications in authenticating and protecting natural language files.
Chasm Crossed? Clicker Use in Postsecondary Chemistry Education

Research on classroom response systems (CRSs) in chemical education has primarily focused on the development of evidence-based strategies for implementation and novel practitioner uses of CRSs in instructional practice. Our national survey of postsecondary chemistry faculty extends these discussions, providing a broad-based understanding of the current state of CRS use in classrooms in the United States. Our results indicate a particular contextual profile for those who have adopted such technology. This profile indicates the unique environment in which faculty members are more likely to report using CRSs, specifically, large courses at the introductory or foundation course level. Some have suggested that CRSs will become universal in chemical education; we note that a niche market has been found.
Does Hormonal Pleiotropy Shape the Evolution of Performance and Life History Traits

SYNOPSIS Hormonal pleiotropy occurs when a part of the endocrine system (e.g., hormone concentrations) influences the expression of two or more phenotypes. Although hormonal pleiotropy may have similar evolutionary consequences as genetic pleiotropy, most conceptual and empirical work on its putative evolutionary consequences to date has focused on identifying whether the different components of an endocrine axis (titer, receptor expression, etc.) that affect trait expression are themselves able to evolve independently from one another. This is important because if these different components evolve together, the expression of two traits affected by the same hormone may be yoked and evolve non-independently. Here, we first describe methodological approaches used to identify how hormonal pleiotropy could cause the co-evolution of performance and life history traits. We then focus on a similar but less studied concept about how hormonal pleiotropy can affect phenotypic responses to selection. If the expression of two traits is affected by the same hormone, the magnitude of the phenotypic response to selection may be exacerbated or retarded compared to the absence of this hormonal pleiotropy. We use classical concepts from quantitative genetics to discuss an approach for identifying whether hormonal pleiotropy has such evolutionary consequences using data collected from longitudinal studies of wild animals. We develop a simple quantitative genetics model to derive predictions about the conditions under which hormonal pleiotropy would affect the response to selection. We focus on performance and life history traits and how the effects of hormonal pleiotropy on the evolution of these traits depend upon the genetic correlations between the hormone and traits as well as the direction and strength of selection on the two traits. Finally, we review the literature for examples that have estimated these model parameters to characterize the studies that have or have not found support for these model predictions.
The “rules of thumb”: Threshold performance measures for real estate investment

This chapter deals with the initial measures used in the field to decide if the collection of more information and performance of further analysis on a real estate investment opportunity is required. The availability of plentiful data for privately owned real estate investments is relatively new. As with any new tool, using it to the full advantage depends on using it correctly. Rules of thumb, having their place in the acquisition of individual properties, also play a role in data analysis. In that role preliminary conclusions about the market in which the target acquisition competes can be reached. Rules of thumb are short cuts. They are for the ‘‘tire kicking’’ stage of a search for a suitable property. They give quick-and-dirty answers. As such, they ignore many important aspects of investing. Rules of thumb are important for two reasons: (1) real estate information is costly, and the decision to pursue more information on one project precludes devoting more time to another, possibly more profitable, pursuit. (2) The smallest income properties often trade in the market solely on the basis of threshold measures. Thus, the decision to purchase a duplex might be based entirely on its gross rent multiplier.
Survival of pathogenic Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. massiliense in Acanthamoeba castellanii.

We used an amoeba model to study the intracellular growth and cytotoxicity of clinical strains of Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. massiliense (Mabsm) isolated from 2 patients (one with cystic fibrosis, the other one with idiopathic bronchiectasis) during the early (smooth colonies) and late stage (rough colonies) of chronic pulmonary infection. Acanthamoeba castellanii were infected with Mabsm (MOI 100) and samples collected every 24 h for 72 h. Results showed Mabsm is able to survive in trophozoites and persist in cysts for at least 7 days. Late Mabsm demonstrated higher cytotoxicity toward A. castellanii when compared to early strains. A. castellanii is a useful in vitro host model to study infection of Mabsm clinical isolates.
Data-Driven Quality Improvement Project to Increase the Value of the Congenital Echocardiographic Report

Echocardiography is the primary diagnostic modality for congenital heart disease patients. The written report is used to communicate with the care team and organization is often divided into the body with detailed findings and the conclusions with important findings summarized. Strategies to increase workflow efficiency include batch writing of reports after performance of multiple echocardiograms and the use of report templates which may contribute to discrepancies within report leading to potential downstream medical errors. The aim of this project was to measure the rate of inconsistencies in the echocardiogram reports and through an iterative series of process improvement decrease this rate while maintaining sonographer efficiency and diagnostic accuracy. The discrepancy rate, diagnostic error rate, and sonographer productivity were collected one-year prior and during the iterative quality improvement process. The primary outcome and discrepancies in reports were determined by two reviewers: an experienced pediatric echocardiographic cardiologist and a senior sonographer. Minor discrepancies were defined as contradictions between the body and the conclusion of the report that were unlikely to affect patient care. Major discrepancies were defined as discrepancies between the body and the conclusion that had significant potential to affect patient care. Sonographer productivity was measured as studies per sonographer per month. Our primary intervention was to initiate a quarterly QI meeting and to decrease the batch writing of preliminary echocardiogram reports. No major discrepancies were identified pre- or post-intervention. The minor discrepancies decreased from 40.7 to 6%. Sonographer productivity was not significantly changed with a slight increase from 100 studies/sonographer/month during the baseline to 101 studies/sonographer/month during the intervention. There was no change in major or minor diagnostic error rate. Our quality improvement intervention increased the value of our reports by significantly decreasing minor discrepancies without negatively impacting sonographer productivity or diagnostic accuracy.
Customer participation and new product performance: Towards the understanding of the mechanisms and key contingencies

Abstract In a study of 243 firms of varying sizes across 14 different industries, we investigate the effect of customer participation on new product development performance. We confirm that overall customer participation is positively related to new product development performance and that the effect is mediated by innovativeness. We also demonstrate that these effects are contingent upon absorptive capacity of the firm in question such that firms with high absorptive capacity stand to gain more from engaging their customers in new product development than firms with low absorptive capacity, especially at the later stages of the NPD process. The results are robust to alternative estimation techniques, measures employed to operationalize key concepts, and the industrial makeup of the sample. Post hoc analyses provide non-trivial managerial implications for the decision makers at the firm level.
Spatial and temporal dynamics of a pulsed spark microplasma used for aerosol analysis

Abstract The spatial and temporal dynamics of a pulsed, electrical spark microplasma used for spectrochemical analysis of aerosols was investigated. The spark discharge was generated by applying a high voltage pulse between a coaxial anode and cathode. Aerosol particles of black carbon were collected on the cathode for 2 min, following which the pulsed microplasma was introduced, leading to ablation and atomization of the collected particles. The space- and time-resolved emission spectra showed that the atomic emission signal from the carbon species originated from the region close to the cathode surface during the early evolution of the microplasma. The C I and C II atomic emission reached peak intensities at 11 and 6 μs delay time, respectively. Peak emission intensities occurred between 0.5–1.3 mm above the cathode surface. The average excitation temperature and the electron number density of the spark microplasma were estimated to be 23,000 K, and 1.6 × 10 17 cm −3 , respectively. The effects of pulse energy on the excitation temperature and electron density were also investigated. The results provide insights into the dynamics of the pulsed spark microplasma and are helpful in optimizing elemental analysis of aerosols using this technique.
Digital Tools in Lower Secondary School Mathematics Education: A Review of Qualitative Research on Mathematics Learning of Lower Secondary School Students

Mathematics-specific digital technology has an ever-increasing presence in school mathematics learning, and qualitative research has shed light on the potential nature of that learning. Particularly for students at the critical early teen age (ages 10–14, or lower secondary school students), the incorporation of mathematics-specific digital technology in their mathematics instruction can change the representations they see, the mathematical activity in which they engage, and the mathematical content they learn. Research on the impact of mathematics-specific digital technology on lower secondary school students has focused on the mediation of the technology on the relationships between the student and mathematical representation, mathematical activity, and/or mathematical content. To examine the nature of understanding of mathematics learning that can be gleaned from this research, a review of the qualitative research literature on the mathematics learning of lower secondary students in the context of mathematics-specific digital technology was conducted. Fifty-three relevant studies were identified and examined based on a pyramidal model describing the mediation by digital technology of the relationships between the student, and some combination of mathematical activity, mathematical representation, and mathematical content. This chapter uses selected studies from that review to represent ways in which qualitative research probes students’ mathematical work. The selected studies are used to illuminate the breadth and depth of students’ experience with mathematical activity, mathematical representation, and mathematical content, and the relationships among them.
Oxycom™ Under Field and Laboratory Conditions Increases Resistance Responses in Plants

Several different types of chemicals induce resistance in plants. Oxycom TM that contains active oxygen species has under commercial field conditions improved the performance of a diversity of plant species exposed to a range of naturally-occurring pathogens, including Pythium, downy mildew and powdery mildew. Oxycom TM had only weak antifungal activity when assayed in the laboratory at the concentrations showing efficacy in the field. Northern hybridization using probes of genes involved in defense was performed on bean, Phaseolus vulgaris, after sprays of Oxycom TM or water. The transcript abundance of genes encoding proteins concerned with phenolic metabolism and plant cell wall strengthening was increased by treatment with Oxycom TM compared with water treatment. Similar patterns of gene induction were observed when benzothiadiazone (BTH), a chemical known to trigger systemic resistance in plants, was used. These laboratory findings are consistent with the products in Oxycom TM being able to increase the resistance potential of the plant.
Consumer Product Safety

The vast array of products available to the American consumer presents a particularly perplexing challenge to the concept of human health and the environment. In a free market economy, there is a constant bombardment of hucksterism designed to convince the public to buy, use, and consume this never-ending parade of products. Because liability for harmful defects lies with the seller, people assume that such products, when used as intended, will do the consumer no harm. However, as much as we would like to believe that our lives in this consumer-oriented society can be risk free, we know that isn’t the case. In fact, all products carry some combination of risk and benefit, and our use or consumption of them becomes a very complex tradeoff.
Collision/Contact Models for Dynamic Simulation and Haptic Interaction

In this paper we present a general framework for the dynamic simulation and haptic exploration of complex virtual environments. This work builds on previous developments in simulation, haptics, and operational space control. The relations between the dynamic models used in simulation and the models originally developed for robotic control are also presented. This framework has been used to develop a simulator that can model complex interaction between generalized articulated mechanical systems and permit direct “hands-on” interaction with the virtual environment through a haptic interface.
Ultrasonic Techniques to Quantify Material Degradation in FRP Composites

This is a progress report of research into use of ultrasonic waves to quantify the amount of damage in fiber reinforced polymeric (FRP) composites. The planned scope of the research involves three distinct stages of experimental work. First is the pre-damage stage when a baseline set of measurements on the composite material is taken. In this stage an effort is made to answer questions on issues like material variability, what range of frequencies can be propagated through it, or whether the material exhibits viscoelastic properties. Stage two, the damage stage, involves the introduction of damage into the material in an accelerated manner in order to simulate the effects of long periods of exposure to damaging environments. Damage mechanisms used are long term temperature aging, temperature aging in a water bath and bending fatigue. Optical imaging techniques will be used to verify that the damaging procedures have indeed produced a noticeable amount of damage in the matrix and fiber before we proceed to the next stage of experimentation. Stage three is the post-damage stage at which final measurements are taken. These final measurements must show a sufficient change from the stage one measurements above the known variability of the material for the imparted degradation change to be quantifiable. The report that follows here represents tests and measurements that are part of the stage one of the planned scope of work.
Investigation of a Slab on Grade Supporting Sensitive Equipment

With the increasing use of instruments that require micro- and nano-level precision, the consideration of stringent vibration criteria in the design of the facilities that contain these instruments has also increased. This paper presents a case study of the performance of a slab on grade constructed in a high performance research facility that houses various pieces of sensitive equipment such as an electron beam lithography system, scanning electron microscopes and transmission electron microscopes. The investigation explores the dynamic properties of a slab-on-grade specifically designed and constructed to support the sensitive equipment. Analytical techniques to predict the dynamic behavior are discussed and compared to actual performance with respect the generic design criterion and the equipment manufacturer-specified design criteria.
Developing Multiple-Choice Questions for Anatomy Examinations

Multiple choice questions (MCQ’s) are widely used in anatomy education, but creating high-quality questions takes careful attention to certain guidelines. As much as possible, anatomists should frame their multiple choice questions with a realistic clinical scenario. The answer choices or foils should be made as simple and as uniform as possible in order to provide the test taker with an unambiguous list of possible answers from which to choose the correct answer. A powerful general rule of thumb in designing the answer list is to cover the answer list and attempt to answer the question. The correct answer should be known without referring to the answer list. Learning to develop high quality multiple choice questions not only helps faculty ensure that their examinations are accurate measures of student knowledge but can also help faculty develop question banks of high quality multiple choice questions that can be powerful learning tools when they are provided to students during their initial acquisition of anatomical knowledge.
STEP in the Context of PLM

This chapter explores the suitability of STEP to enable Product Lifecycle Management (PLM). It summarizes the relevant standards and discusses their potential to support PLM. After evaluating that STEP is best suited to support PLM, the chapter focuses on engineering change management an activity that is typical of PLM. In order to capture the change evaluation data, STEP-compliant extensions to the existing engineering change data model are proposed. A physical STEP file derived from the proposed information model to capture and represent an example engineering change is demonstrated. The chapter closes by identifying issues internal to ISO 10303 that potentially hinder lifecycle-wide exchange and reuse of product information.
An open source benchmarked toolbox for cardiovascular waveform and interval analysis.

OBJECTIVE This work aims to validate a set of data processing methods for variability metrics, which hold promise as potential indicators for autonomic function, prediction of adverse cardiovascular outcomes, psychophysiological status, and general wellness. Although the investigation of heart rate variability (HRV) has been prevalent for several decades, the methods used for preprocessing, windowing, and choosing appropriate parameters lacks consensus among academic and clinical investigators. Moreover, many of the important steps are omitted from publications, preventing reproducibility. APPROACH To address this, we have compiled a comprehensive and open-source modular toolbox for calculating HRV metrics and other related variability indices, on both raw cardiovascular time series and RR intervals. The software, known as the PhysioNet Cardiovascular Signal Toolbox, is implemented in the MATLAB programming language, with standard (open) input and output formats, and requires no external libraries. The functioning of our software is compared with other widely used and referenced HRV toolboxes to identify important differences. MAIN RESULTS Our findings demonstrate how modest differences in the approach to HRV analysis can lead to divergent results, a factor that might have contributed to the lack of repeatability of studies and clinical applicability of HRV metrics. SIGNIFICANCE Existing HRV toolboxes do not include standardized preprocessing, signal quality indices (for noisy segment removal), and abnormal rhythm detection and are therefore likely to lead to significant errors in the presence of moderate to high noise or arrhythmias. We therefore describe the inclusion of validated tools to address these issues. We also make recommendations for default values and testing/reporting.
A phase I study of BKM120, a novel oral selective phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, in combination with fulvestrant in postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor positive metastatic breast cancer.

TPS664 Background: PI3K pathway activation plays a crucial role in mediating endocrine therapy resistance in estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer. We have shown previously that BKM120 in combination with fulvestrant induced synergistic apoptotic cell death in long-term estrogen deprived ER+ breast cancer (LTED) cell line models, supporting the clinical investigation of this combination in ER+ breast cancer. Methods: The study is composed of the dose escalation cohort (phase IA) and the expansion cohort (phase IB). In phase IA, a standard 3+3 phase I design is employed to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of the combination of BKM120 and fulvestrant in patients (pts) with ER+ metastatic breast cancer (MBC). In phase IB, an additional 10 pts will be enrolled at the MTD to further examine the toxicity profile and preliminary efficacy of this combination. Steady state concentrations of BKM120 will be analyzed. Postmenopausal women with ER+ MBC and measurable disease per RECIST are eligible....
Comparison of Automated Activity Recognition to Provider Observations of Patient Mobility in the ICU.

Objectives To compare noninvasive mobility sensor patient motion signature to direct observations by physicians and nurses. Design Prospective, observational study. Setting Academic hospital surgical ICU. Patients and measurements A total of 2,426 1-minute clips from six ICU patients (development dataset) and 4,824 1-minute clips from five patients (test dataset). Interventions None. Main results Noninvasive mobility sensor achieved a minute-level accuracy of 94.2% (2,138/2,272) and an hour-level accuracy of 81.4% (70/86). Conclusions The automated noninvasive mobility sensor system represents a significant departure from current manual measurement and reporting used in clinical care, lowering the burden of measurement and documentation on caregivers.
Error-correction of linear codes via colon ideals

Abstract We show that errors in data transmitted through linear codes can be thought of as codewords of minimum weight of new linear codes. To determine errors we can then use methods specific to finding such special codewords. One of these methods consists of finding the primary decomposition of the saturation of a certain homogeneous ideal. When good words (i.e. vectors with a unique nearest neighbor) are error-corrected, the saturated ideal is just the prime ideal of a point (so the primary decomposition is superfluously determined); we show that this ideal can be computed by coloning the original homogeneous ideal with a power of a certain variable. We then determine the smallest such power for any linear code.
Hispanic and Asian Earnings Inequality: New Workers and Immigrants

Using confidential-use, individual-level Internal Revenue Service and US Census data, we follow the earnings of Hispanics and Asians between the ages of 18–45 with panel data that spans the years 2005–2014. These two groups represent the largest immigration flows in recent years. We examine the impact that labor market entrants and new immigrant arrivals within each group have on group earnings inequality. We show that labor market entrants and immigrants increase inequality for both groups.
Current pathologic diagnosis and management of Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis and gastric marginal zone lymphoma with a case report

Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) associated gastritis is one of the most common infectious diseases in China and worldwide.Gastric marginal zone lymphoma,or mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is a rare neoplasm associated with H.pylori infection and the first neoplastic disease curable by antibiotics therapy alone.The pathologic diagnosis of gastric MALT lymphoma can be reached by histologic examination,immunohistochemical staining,and B-cell clonality studies.Eradication against H.pylori is the choice of therapy for early stage gastric MALT lymphoma.Refractory,localized disease may be treated with low-dose irradiation therapy with high rates of responding and long-term survival.Systemic chemotherapy is recommended for advanced stage gastric MALT lymphoma or high-grade transformed large B-cell lymphoma.A recent case with recurrent chronic active gastritis and gastric MALT lymphoma after H.pylori eradication therapy was reported.Recent advances in the studies of pathologic diagnosis and therapy of the disease were reviewed. Key words: Mucosa associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma; Helicobacter pylori; Diagnosis; Therapy
Active Versus Passive Classrooms: An Empirical Study to Determine How Student Performance is Effected

There is a critical need to strengthen accounting education in the United States and across the rest of the world. The initial push in this direction came from the American Accounting Association Education Change Commission where, in their first Position Statement, stated that Students should be active participants in the learning process, not passive recipients of information...working on teams should be encouraged. Teaching methods that expand and reinforce basic communication, intellectual and interpersonal skills should be used(1990). The emphasis on working on teams to achieve an assortment of goals is so established that it is common knowledge. Robert Reich, the previous Secretary of Labor, mentioned that Tomorrow's workers will function as teammates. Learn to play all positions and win as a team (Reich, 1996). According to a recent meta-analysis by Springer, Stanne, and Donovan (1997), there is the need for a shift in emphasis from teaching to learning. The message is clear: What students learn is greatly influenced by how they learn, and many students learn best through active, collaborative, small-group work inside and outside the classroom. The authors reached their conclusions from highlevel reports from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, (1989,1990), National Research Council, (1995. 1996) and the National Science Foundation, (1996). Working on teams is referred to as cooperative learning. Several meta-analysis on this area of research have been published over the years in which the empirical results of hundred of studies have been investigated (e.g., Johnson & Johnson, 1989; Johnson, Johnson and Smith, 1991a; 1991b; Johnson et. al. 1981; Qin, Johnson, & Johnson, 1995). It can be concluded from these meta-analyses that a cooperative rather than a competitive work setting leads to significant effects on achievement, self-esteem, psychological health, attitudes towards learning and inter-group attitudes.
Identifying Teaching Methods Used by Clinical Instructors in Nuclear Medicine.

PURPOSE To qualitatively address the teaching methods, effective pedagogy, feedback delivery, and perceived value of orientation workshops of nuclear medicine preceptors, also known as clinical instructors. METHODS Open-ended interviews were conducted face-to-face and by email correspondence to collect data from 11 nuclear medicine clinical instructors in the southwestern United States. A case study method was used to obtain salient themes from the participants. RESULTS Findings demonstrated that the most commonly used teaching styles were hands-on and observation. Participants described their self-perceived teaching skills as high quality, even though they had little or no formal teaching experience. Participants were not aware that students completed teaching evaluations, or they did not find value in the students' reviews. The participants perceived orientation workshops as a valuable option, identifying the following relevant topics: types of learners, communication skills, ethical situations, sensitivity training, and cultural competence. DISCUSSION This study identified useful teaching methods, including feedback, to fill the existing gap in literature related to clinical instruction in nuclear medicine. Findings of this study indicate a need to better educate clinical instructors. One method for this is conducting orientation workshops that improve teaching method effectiveness, expand the educational experience of students, and strengthen the students' clinical skills. CONCLUSION A process that encourages awareness and change is needed to develop instructors' teaching skills in a clinical setting. The absence of review or responses to student feedback through teacher evaluation scores should be at the forefront of change, regardless of the teaching method employed.
The impact of sensorial stimuli on disclosure behavior

Among the many factors that can elicit privacy concerns and affect privacy behavior, some are sensorial: detecting the presence of others through our senses. Human beings may be wired to react to sensorial cues and rely, in part, on them to assess the privacy ramifications of their actions. Individuals may react to sensorial cues indicating the presence of others even when those cues do not carry relevant information about likely consequences of privacy choices – and thus, from a normative perspective, may not be expected to influence privacy concerns and resulting behaviors. In four experiments (N = 829), we examine the effect on privacy-relevant behavior (the disclosure of sensitive personal information) of four sensorial cues signaling the presence of other humans: proximity, visual, auditory, and olfactory, each signaling the presence of another person. Proximity and visual cues (Experiments 1 and 2) produced an inhibitory effect on intimate self-disclosures in an online survey – including when that presence does not and cannot materially affect participants’ risks or benefits associated with disclosure (Experiment 2). Auditory and olfactory cues (Experiments 3 and 4), however, did not. The findings point to a possible influence of sensorial (specifically, visual) cues on privacy behavior. We discuss the implications of the findings in the context of privacy and security decision making in a digital age, where physical cues human beings may have adapted to use for detection of threats may be absent, or even strategically manipulated by antagonistic third parties.
An Ethical Framework for Message Prioritization in Disaster Response

Disaster response robots show promise, but risk adding significant load to already overburdened communication networks. Previous work addressed this problem by prioritizing certain messages; however, the ethical implications of message prioritization in disaster response have not been studied comprehensively. This manuscript proposes an ethical framework for evaluating message prioritization mechanisms. Additionally, a taxonomy of the existing message prioritization approaches is introduced, highlighting the ethical principles that most require further study for each approach.
Flow in a Chemical Potential Field: Diffusion

Transport is measured by flux, which is defined as the net movement of matter in unit time through a plane of unit area normal to the gradient of potential. In the case of diffusion, molecules of specific components will travel down their concentration gradient, ∂c/∂x, until the gradient is removed or neutralized. During electrical conduction, mass, as well as charge, is transported in an electric field
Racial Segregation and Public School Expenditure

This paper explores the eect of racial segregation on public school expenditure in US metropolitan areas and school districts. Our start- ing point is the literature that relates public good provision to the degree of racial fragmentation in the community. We argue that look- ing at fragmentation alone may be misleading and that the geographic distribution of dierent racial groups needs to be taken into account. Greater segregation is associated with more homogeneity in some sub- areas and more heterogeneity in others, and this matters if decisions on spending are taken at aggregation levels lower than the MSA. For given fragmentation, the extent of segregation conveys information on households'possibility to sort into relatively more or less homogeneous jurisdictions. We account for the potential endogeneity of racial segre- gation and …nd that the latter has a positive impact on average public school expenditure both at the MSA and at the district level. At the same time, increased segregation leads to more inequality in spending across districts of the same MSA, thus worsening the relative position of poorer districts.
Computer-Based Graphics for Terrain Visualization Training:

This research is concerned with applications of computer graphic techniques to broaden a soldier's experience with a difficult map-reading task: terrain visualization. The graphic techniques allow a soldier to view a simplified contour map in the upper half of a computer display, place and rotate a cursor at any location on the map, and subsequently view on the bottom half of the screen the simulated three-dimensional terrain that correlates with the cursor's position and direction. Effects of two factors on terrain visualization performance were considered: individual differences in soldiers' spatial abilities (high, medium, or low) and type of training (active or passive). After computer-based training on how to read contour lines, half of the soldiers in each spatial group received active practice in terrain visualization; the other half received passive practice. Under active practice, soldiers were allowed to freely explore contour maps, selecting the terrain they wished to view. Under passive practi...
Acupuncture in the management of chronic pain

This article reports the results of a survey of acupuncture practice in chronic pain clinics in the United Kingdom. The survey reveals that acupuncture is widely used in the treatment of chronic pain with 84% of those responding stating that it was available at their clinics. The majority of practitioners had attended a course at one of the ‘acupuncture schools’ but in about one fifth of the clinics the practitioner had not received any formal training.
Appendices. Iowa Medicaid Non-Emergency Medical Transportation System Review and Options for Improvement

These are the appendices for a study on non-emergency medical transportation in the rural areas of Iowa. Inadequate transportation has long been identified as a major issue in rural Iowa, and it is particularly acute for people of all ages with disabilities and their families, including Medicaid members. Currently, Medicaid members are reimbursed for transporting themselves, or providers are reimbursed for transporting individuals, which places the bulk of the responsibility on consumers, Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) Income Maintenance workers and case managers. Under a statewide, Medicaid-funded transportation brokerage, Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME) would contract with an entity to (1) establish a network of transportation providers; (2) maintain a call center; (3) ensure compliance with Medicaid regulations related to eligibility of the individual and trip; (4) arrange and pay for the trips; and (5) monitor services and transportation providers for compliance and quality. States that have established brokerages have, in general, experienced an increase in the number of trips and a reduction in the cost per trip. A goal of the study was to provide guidance for consistent access to non-emergency health care services by pointing the way towards coordinated non-emergency medical transportation services through a centralized transportation brokerage.
An overview of aluminum/sulfur battery technology

Recently, the authors introduced a new battery utilizing a sulfur cathode and an aluminum anode; the aluminum-sulfur cell, E/sub cell/(theoretical)=1.8 V. The Faradaic capacity of the Al/S battery (based on potassium salts) is 505 Ah/kg, and the theoretical specific energy is 1.8 Volt/spl times/505 Ah/kg=910 Wh/kg. The principal advantages of the system include its ability to function at and near room temperature, and the very high energy capacity of the anodic and cathodic materials. In this paper, technological developments in the low, medium and high power density domains of the aluminum/sulfur battery are discussed. >
Plasma Distribution in Mercury's Magnetosphere Derived from MESSENGER Magnetometer and Fast Imaging Plasma Spectrometer Observations

We assess the statistical spatial distribution of plasma in Mercury's magnetosphere from observations of magnetic pressure deficits and plasma characteristics by the MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft. The statistical distributions of proton flux and pressure were derived from 10months of Fast Imaging Plasma Spectrometer (FIPS) observations obtained during the orbital phase of the MESSENGER mission. The Magnetometer-derived pressure distributions compare favorably with those deduced from the FIPS observations at locations where depressions in the magnetic field associated with the presence of enhanced plasma pressures are discernible in the Magnetometer data. The magnitudes of the magnetic pressure deficit and the plasma pressure agree on average, although the two measures of plasma pressure may deviate for individual events by as much as a factor of approximately 3. The FIPS distributions provide better statistics in regions where the plasma is more tenuous and reveal an enhanced plasma population near the magnetopause flanks resulting from direct entry of magnetosheath plasma into the low-latitude boundary layer of the magnetosphere. The plasma observations also exhibit a pronounced north-south asymmetry on the nightside, with markedly lower fluxes at low altitudes in the northern hemisphere than at higher altitudes in the south on the same field line. This asymmetry is consistent with particle loss to the southern hemisphere surface during bounce motion in Mercury's offset dipole magnetic field.
Counterpoint: Prostate-specific antigen velocity is not of value for early detection of cancer

There is firm evidence that PSA velocity is statistically associated with many prostate cancer outcomes, including those related to early detection. But clinical use of a marker depends on clinical as well as statistical significance. Before using PSA velocity to inform decisions such as whether or not to biopsy a man, there should be clear evidence that doing so would improve clinical outcome. A systematic review on PSA velocity found that almost no studies had evaluated whether PSA velocity aids clinical decision-making. Since that time, several reports have indicated that including PSA in a statistical model alongside standard predictors (such as PSA and digital rectal exam) does not improve predictive accuracy. Specifically, biopsying men with high PSA velocity in the absence of other indications, as recommended by the NCCN guidelines, would lead to many millions of unnecessary biopsies, without a corresponding number of aggressive cancers being detected. Advocates of PSA velocity have been reduced to citing a single paper purporting to show that PSA velocity aids clinical decision-making. The paper involves selective reporting of an unusual subgroup analysis based on an extremely limited number of events. This is not to say that, in clinical practice, urologists should ignore prior PSA values: clinical judgment can be aided by careful longitudinal evaluation of PSA changes, interpreted in the context of symptoms and treatments. However, the literature clearly demonstrates that simplistic application of PSA velocity cut-offs is not of value for early detection of prostate cancer.
Healthy Health Care Settings

Health care settings represent a unique built environment because their primary function is maintaining and restoring health. In health care settings, patients, staff, visitors, and even community members may all be affected by design. Design features of health care institutions such as improved indoor air quality and natural daylighting may promote health. Some features offer direct benefits to patients, and some operate indirectly, for example, by reducing medical errors. Health care facilities are much more resource intensive than other commercial facility types, using more than twice as much energy per square foot, in part because they operate continuously. There is now a growing focus on the environmental performance of health care institutions, as a subset of green building initiatives more generally. Evidence-based design (EBD) uses systematic, empirical evidence on risks and benefits to guide design decisions. Applicable to many types of buildings, EBD has been especially well defined and applied in health care facilities. EBD can incorporate many kinds of outcomes, including health, environmental performance, cost, and aesthetic preference, although it has been most extensively applied to health impacts. Ideally, the design of health care facilities optimizes both health and environmental performance, while reducing cost.
Long-Term Food Stamp Program Participation Is Positively Related to Simultaneous Overweight in Young Daughters and Obesity in Mothers

Previous research using longitudinal data has found a positive and significant relationship between Food Stamp Program (FSP) participation and overweight in young girls and obesity in low-income women. This paper examined whether these relationships occurred simultaneously for members of the same family using longitudinal data on young (aged 4.5-11.5 y) girls and their mothers from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979. The results of ordinary least squares models that included detailed measures of individual, family, and environment characteristics and daughter or mother fixed effects indicated that all of the positive association between long-term FSP participation and overweight in daughters was accounted for by the association between long-term FSP participation and simultaneous overweight in daughters and obesity in mothers. Similarly, all of the positive association between long-term FSP participation and obesity in mothers was accounted for by the association between long-term FSP participation and simultaneous obesity in mothers and overweight in at least 1 young daughter. These results suggest that the relationship between long-term FSP participation and weight is a family phenomenon.
Differences between Art and Design Education—or Differences in Conceptions of Creativity?

The principles and techniques of design education have begun to influence art education in the United States, but their effect so far has been modest, primarily because of a gaping divide in beliefs about creativity and how to stimulate it. With K–12 art education on the chopping block of a culture awash with budget cuts and testing fever, this is a particularly a significant time to examine these disparate conceptions. The argument here is that the division that exists today between pre-K–12 art education and design education in the United States is not justified and ignores historical perspective. After describing and comparing the two approaches, we examine how conceptions of creativity in the visual arts may have led to this artificial separation of similar disciplines. Because educators in many countries grapple with defining and implementing creative art education curricula, this article will consider international perspectives that offer insights for American art educators.
Media Bias, Perspective, and State Repression: The Black Panther Party

Davenport, C. (2010). Media bias, perspective, and state repression: The Black Panther Party. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 242 pages. Media Bias, Perspective, and State Repression: The...
ETIOLOGY OF YELLOW FEVER : III. SYMPTOMATOLOGY AND PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS IN ANIMALS EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED.

Studies are reported on the type of disease induced in guinea pigs, dogs, and monkeys by inoculating them (1) with the blood or organ emulsions of guinea pigs or other susceptible animals experimentally infected with Leptospira icteroides, and (2) with a pure culture of the organism. Particular attention has been given in these experiments to the clinical features of the experimental infection in the various animals and to the pathological changes resulting from the infection. The symptoms and pathological lesions induced in guinea pigs are much more pronounced than those observed in dogs or marmosets. The period of incubation is nearly the same in all three species, 72 to 96 hours with intraperitoneal or subcutaneous inoculation, and a day or more longer when the infection is induced percutaneously or per os. The febrile reaction in the guinea pig and marmoset is about the same; in the dog there is less fever. The amount of albumin, casts, and bile pigments in the urine is more abundant in the guinea pig and marmoset than in the dog, and these animals also appear on the whole to become more intensely icteric. The black or bilious vomit, however, though occurring frequently in dogs during life, is observed in the guinea pig and marmoset at autopsy. The hemorrhagic diathesis is most pronounced in guinea pigs, less so in marmosets, and least in dogs. In dogs) for example, subcutaneous hemorrhages almost never occur, and the lungs usually show only a few minute ecchymoses. The pleurse, pericardium, and other serous surfaces of the thorax and abdomen remain free from ecchymoses, which, however, with hyperemia, are very marked along the gastrointestinal tract. The symptoms and lesions observed in animals experimentally infected with Leptospira icteroides closely parallel those of human yellow fever. The pathological changes occurring in human cases of yellow fever are similar to those induced by inoculation in guinea pigs and marmosets and in respect to their intensity stand intermediate between those arising in the two animals mentioned.