cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vector Fourier optics of anisotropic materials

The Fourier optics technique is founded on the transfer function derived from the scalar wave equation and thus has traditionally been applied to monochromatic scalar fields propagating paraxially in isotropic lossless materials. We review scalar and vector diffraction theory to show that the scalar Fourier optics technique can be seamlessly extended to the case of time-dependent nonparaxial and evanescent vector fields propagating in anisotropic and/or absorbing materials. The missing piece is shown to be the Fourier-domain vector boundary conditions that have recently been derived from the real-domain vector Rayleigh–Sommerfeld diffraction integral. These boundary conditions, complemented by the anisotropic transfer functions provided by the roots of the Booker quartic, combine the rigor of Green’s function integrals with the intuitive simplicity and general applicability of Fourier optics. We illustrate the power of this technique via analytically simple solutions to traditionally complex problems such as Fresnel transmission between arbitrary media, uniaxial conoscopy, and biaxial conical refraction. The accuracy of vector near-field diffraction is validated via comparison with the finite-difference time-domain method.
Manufacturing Descent: Basal Readers and the Creation of Reading Failures.

There are many definitions of literacy and many kinds of literacies. However, the basal reading programs in use in most American elementary schools value particular literacy practices. This article describes how basal readers, by defining literacy in a particular way, manufacture reading failures among students from less privileged economic and social backgrounds, students especially likely to come to the attention of special and remedial educators. We explain how certain literacy practices came to be valued over others by briefly reviewing the history of reading instruction in the United States. We conclude with a call for educators to speak out against reading practices that protect the privilege of the upper and upper‐middle classes by encoding their values and intentions into school reading practices
On a new CMOS resistor implementation for linear analog IC signal processing applications

A CMOS implementation of a linearized floating resistance is presented, in which the resistor value depends only on the beta of a matched set of NMOS transistors, and on a bias current I/sub B/. A linear amplifier is realized by combining two resistors and one op amp. In this circuit the nonlinearities of the individual resistors cancel; fully differential operation is not required. Experimental data show good agreement with simulation results. >
A Correlated Diffusion Noise Model for the Field-Effect Transistor

A numerical approach to simulate the intrinsic noise sources within transistors is described, and the impact of spatial correlation between local fluctuations is investigated. Using a 2-D numerical device solver, spectral densities for the gate and drain noise current sources and their correlation are evaluated using a Green's function approach, which is an equivalent of Shockley's impedance field method. Case studies with an AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor are supported by measurement data. Using a spatial noise source correlation model, similar terminal noise is found to the case of an uncorrelated diffusion noise source. Therefore, using uncorrelated local noise sources to calculate the intrinsic terminal noise is found to be valid even for the submicrometer gate length field-effect transistor studied.
Aircraft aerodynamic effects due to large droplet ice accretions

The effect of large-droplet ice accretion on aircraft control and in particular lateral control is examined. Supercooled large droplet icing conditions can result in the formation of a ridge of ice aft of the upper surface boot. By comparing this ice shape to data acquired with a spanwise protuberance on a different airfoil, it is clear that a ridge of ice aft of the boot can lead to large losses in lift, increases in drag and changes in the pitching moment. This effect is most likely due to the formation of a large separation bubble aft of the ice accretion which grows with angle of attack and eventually fails to reattach, leading to premature airfoil stall. The bubble alters the pressure distribution about the airfoil resulting in a more trailing edge up (negative) hinge moment on the aileron and the resulting change in aileron stick force. This can lead to aileron hinge moment reversal and aileron snatch. In aileron snatch the hinge moments are altered to the extent that the aileron is pulled up by the low pressure over the upper surface of the aileron with sufficient force to induce a rapid roll if a large stick force is not immediately exerted to oppose it. There is evidence in the literature which shows that similar lateral control problems are possible with other types of ice accretions and airfoil types.
Instability Process in Synthetic Jets

This paper discusses the instability process in synthetic jets and how they transitioned into turbulent continuous flow. Axisymmetric synthetic jet was investigated and the results were compared against conventional turbulent jet and previous studies for synthetic jet. Time resolved PIV data was used to obtain velocity and frequency information of the flow. It was shown that the transition process occur due to vortex merging at x/D =5.5 and x/D = 7. These locations correspond to the location where the energy in the subharmonic frequency is at max. The forcing frequency of the jet dominates the flow characteristics of the synthetic jet, but using the triple decomposition method it was shown that the random fluctuations in the jet are similar to the continuous jet. The rise of the random fluctuations and the fall of the deterministic fluctuations are directly related to the transition process of the jet. Nomenclatures
Variable-rate turbo bit-interleaved coded modulation

This paper studies the performance of variable-rate turbo bit-interleaved coded modulation (Turbo-BICM) with random puncturing. A union-Bhattacharyya rate threshold for the variable-rate Turbo-BICM is derived. A closed form approximation of this rate threshold is determined for an AWGN channel and shown to predict the Turbo-BICM iterative decoding performance very well.
Biodiesel: Vehicle Fuel from Vegetable Oil

Biodiesel is an alternative fuel produced by the transesterification of triglycerides from natural oils with an alcohol. This review discusses the basic requirements for diesel fuels and how biodiesel meets these requirements. This information is correlated to the chemistry of biodiesel production including reactants, products, and contaminants and the techno-economic tradeoffs between process variables. Finally, this review examines the ecological significance of biodiesel and how ecological, economic, and ideological considerations will affect the future of biodiesel production in the United States and Europe.
The RFX-Type Transcription Factor DAF-19 Regulates Sensory Neuron Cilium Formation in C. elegans

Many types of sensory neurons contain modified cilia where sensory signal transduction occurs. We report that the C. elegans gene daf-19 encodes an RFX-type transcription factor that is expressed specifically in all ciliated sensory neurons. Loss of daf-19 function causes the absence of cilia, resulting in severe sensory defects. Several genes that function in all ciliated sensory neurons have an RFX target site in their promoters and require daf-19 function. Several other genes that function in subsets of ciliated sensory neurons do not have an RFX target site and are not daf-19 dependent. These results suggest that expression of the shared components of sensory cilia is activated by daf-19, whereas cell-type-specific expression occurs independently of daf-19.
Feedback control design of differential-drive wheeled mobile robots

The control system design of differential-drive wheeled robots in the approach of approximate feedback linearization is presented in this paper. A differential-drive wheeled mobile robot is a highly nonlinear multi-input/multi-output system. Traditional techniques can not result in a control system design with satisfactory performance. In this paper, we propose to reasonably choose the state variables so that the control design can be implemented in the sense of approximate linearization. To assess the proposed method for control of differential-driven mobile robot, we compare its performance with that under a conventional linearised controller. Simulation results demonstrate that the approximate feedback linearization can provide much better performance than the normal linearized control system design
Wide spurious free range positive-to-negative inter-resonator coupling structure for reconfigurable filters

A structure for positive-to-negative inter-resonator coupling in cavity resonator filters is shown in this paper. Mechanically and electrically reconfigurable versions of the structure are described. The structure has a wide spurious free range while retaining the capability to provide near-zero coupling because it uses symmetry to redirect digitally addressable amounts of current to adjust coupling values instead of using the phase shift through a resonance. It is applied to 6-resonator cross-coupled filters whose response can be adjusted between several different orders and shapes, including shapes with and without transmission zeros. A technique for improving the near-zero coupling state is also presented.
Discrete-time average-consensus under switching network topologies

This paper develops a distributed algorithm for average-consensus in a discrete-time framework based on a formal matrix limit definition of average-consensus. Using this algorithm, the average-consensus problem is solved under switching network topologies provided that the network switch between instantaneously balanced, connected-over-time networks. In other words, if at each instant the network is balanced and the union of graphs over every interval T is connected, then average-consensus can be achieved. An interesting product of this analysis is the notion of "deadbeat" consensus where a system of agents achieves consensus (average or otherwise) in finite time rather than asymptotically.
The Strategic Impact Of Environmental Uncertainty And Information Systems Design

For most of this century, strategic planning has been a three-to-five year organizational ritual of measuring the current position of the firm and determining where the firm should go in the future within the context of perceived environmental uncertainty (PEU). It has long been assumed that PEU impacts the strategic choices that drive or-ganizational structure, including information systems design. However, technology has blurred the delineation between strategy and structure, and how organizations deal with PEU. The convergence of these elements has resulted in these causal relationships be-ing questioned and re-examined. Recent research indicates that information systems play such an important role in today's organizations that they may impact the strategy that an organization pursues. This study surveys and examines 148 firms operating in ninety-two different industries. The results indicate that PEU has a significant impact on both strategy and information systems design while information systems design sig-nificantly affects strategy. This is critically important for information systems profes-sionals as it suggests that the design and capabilities of the firm's information system are important considerations in the selection of a firm's strategy.
Cationic, amphiphilic copolymer micelles as nucleic acid carriers for enhanced transfection in rat spinal cord.

Abstract Spinal cord injury commonly leads to permanent motor and sensory deficits due to the limited regenerative capacity of the adult central nervous system (CNS). Nucleic acid-based therapy is a promising strategy to deliver bioactive molecules capable of promoting axonal regeneration. Branched polyethylenimine (bPEI: 25 kDa) is one of the most widely studied nonviral vectors, but its clinical application has been limited due to its cytotoxicity and low transfection efficiency in the presence of serum proteins. In this study, we synthesized cationic amphiphilic copolymers, poly (lactide-co-glycolide)-graft-polyethylenimine (PgP), by grafting low molecular weight PLGA (4 kDa) to bPEI (25 kDa) at approximately a 3:1 ratio as an efficient nonviral vector. We show that PgP micelle is capable of efficiently transfecting plasmid DNA (pDNA) and siRNA in the presence of 10% serum in neuroglioma (C6) cells, neuroblastoma (B35) cells, and primary E8 chick forebrain neurons (CFN) with pDNA transfection efficiencies of 58.8%, 75.1%, and 8.1%, respectively. We also show that PgP provides high-level transgene expression in the rat spinal cord in vivo that is substantially greater than that attained with bPEI. The combination of improved transfection and reduced cytotoxicity in vitro in the presence of serum and in vivo transfection of neural cells relative to conventional bPEI suggests that PgP may be a promising nonviral vector for therapeutic nucleic acid delivery for neural regeneration. Statement of Significance Gene therapy is a promising strategy to overcome barriers to axonal regeneration in the injured central nervous system. Branched polyethylenimine (bPEI: 25 kDa) is one of the most widely studied nonviral vectors, but its clinical application has been limited due to cytotoxicity and low transfection efficiency in the presence of serum proteins. Here, we report cationic amphiphilic copolymers, poly (lactide-co-glycolide)-graft-polyethylenimine (PgP) that are capable of efficiently transfecting reporter genes and siRNA both in the presence of 10% serum in vitro and in the rat spinal cord in vivo . The combination of improved transfection and reduced cytotoxicity in the presence of serum as well as transfection of neural cells in vivo suggests PgP may be a promising nucleic acid carrier for CNS gene delivery.
De novo assembly of the mitochondrial genome of Ulva fasciata Delile (Ulvophyceae, Chlorophyta), a distromatic blade-forming green macroalga

We present the 61 614 bp circular-mapping mitochondrial genome of Ulva fasciata. Fifty-eight genes were identified including 29 protein-coding genes, 27 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Four ORFs from the Ulva sp. UNA00071828 mitogenome were conserved compared to the mitogenome of Ulva fasciata. The ∼10 000 bp size difference was mostly due to fewer introns found in U. fasciata mtDNA (4) as compared with the Ulva sp. UNA00071828 mtDNA (10). Introns were annotated in cox1 (3) and nad3 (1). The AT content was similar to Ulva sp. UNA00071828 mtDNA at 67.5%. A phylogenomic anaylsis of 28 chlorophytes and 17 protein-coding genes (14 115 bp alignment) showed that U. fasciata clusters closely with other members of the Ulvophyceae (Ulva sp. UNA00071828, Pseudendoclonium akinetum, and Oltmannsiellopsis viridis). This analysis did not recover a monophyletic Ulvophyceae, however, the Trebouxiophyceae and Chlorophyceae were supported as monophyletic groups.
Some C∗-algebras which are coronas of non-C∗-Banach algebras

Abstract We present results and motivating problems in the study of commutants of hermitian n -tuples of Hilbert space operators modulo normed ideals. In particular, the C ∗ -algebras which arise in this context as coronas of non- C ∗ -Banach algebras, the connections with normed ideal perturbations of operators, the hyponormal operators and the bidual Banach algebras one encounters are discussed.
The geographic distribution of a tropical montane bird is limited by a tree: Acorn Woodpeckers (Melanerpes formicivorus) and Colombian oaks (Quercus humboldtii) in the Northern Andes

Species distributions are limited by a complex array of abiotic and biotic factors. In general, abiotic (climatic) factors are thought to explain species’ broad geographic distributions, while biotic factors regulate species’ abundance patterns at local scales. We used species distribution models to test the hypothesis that a biotic interaction with a tree, the Colombian oak (Quercus humboldtii), limits the broad-scale distribution of the Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) in the Northern Andes of South America. North American populations of Acorn Woodpeckers consume acorns from Quercus oaks and are limited by the presence of Quercus oaks. However, Acorn Woodpeckers in the Northern Andes seldom consume Colombian oak acorns (though may regularly drink sap from oak trees) and have been observed at sites without Colombian oaks, the sole species of Quercus found in South America. We found that climate-only models overpredicted Acorn Woodpecker distribution, suggesting that suitable abiotic conditions (e.g. in northern Ecuador) exist beyond the woodpecker’s southern range margin. In contrast, models that incorporate Colombian oak presence outperformed climate-only models and more accurately predicted the location of the Acorn Woodpecker’s southern range margin in southern Colombia. These findings support the hypothesis that a biotic interaction with Colombian oaks sets Acorn Woodpecker’s broad-scale geographic limit in South America, probably because Acorn Woodpeckers rely on Colombian oaks as a food resource (possibly for the oak’s sap rather than for acorns). Although empirical examples of particular plants limiting tropical birds’ distributions are scarce, we predict that similar biotic interactions may play an important role in structuring the geographic distributions of many species of tropical montane birds with specialized foraging behavior.
Reduviolus roseipennis Behavior and Effectiveness in Reducing Numbers of Heliothis zea on Cotton

Reduviolus roseipennis (Reuter) spatial location and searching activity on cotton, and effectiveness in reducing numbers of 1st-instar Heliothis zea (Boddie) larvae on cotton were studied in the greenhouse and laboratory. Spatial location of adults on plants was mainly confined to the upper ⅓ of the plant on the lower surface of leaves. Predator activity, which suggests searching on plants, was crepuscular and peaked at 7:00 p.m. (CDST). First, 3rd, and 5th instar nymphs consumed 1.9, 7.9, and 38.2 larvae per day, respectively. Feeding by adults decreased with age; females consumed more hosts than males. Feeding effectiveness decreased significantly ( P = 0.05) (as indicated by percent available prey consumed per predator) with an increase in number of predators. However, effectiveness was not significantly affected by an increase in number of prey. Individual predator effectiveness decreased with increased plant age and size.
Microstructure and IR range optical properties of pure DLC and DLC containing dopants prepared by pulsed laser deposition

We have investigated the microstructure and the IR range optical properties(emittance, transmittance and reflectance) of diamond-like carbon (DLC) films with the incorporation of dopants. The DLC films were deposited by pulsed laser deposition with a novel target configuration allowing incorporation of dopants, such as silicon, titanium and copper, into the films. Raman spectroscopy, radial distribution function (RDF) and coordination defect analysis of the electron diffraction pattern of the films showed typical features of DLC with a structure dictated by sp 3 bonded carbon, indicating that the overall DLC characteristics did not change upon doping. The IR range optical measurements showed that in addition to the general band-toband transitions, free carriers and phonon contributions, localized states also contribute to the emissivity in DLC and they smooth out the sharp features of the emissivity spectra. The effect of dopants is to enhance the contribution from the free carriers and localized states. The results were discussed on the basis of the effect of dopants on the electronic structure of DLC films.
Comparison of the physicochemical properties of two rice varieties starch and its modified starches

This test mainly dealt with the physicochemical properties of the flours,starches and modified starches(substitution degree DS=0.068) of two rice varieties,indica rice and japonica rice.The swelling powers of flour,starch and phosphate starch of japonica rice were 7.5,10.7,21.6 g/g respectively,significantly higher than that of indica rice(5.8,8.9,17.4 g/g).Modified starches showed higher transmittance compared to starches,and the transmittance of starches were slightly higher than the flours.The pasting property investigated with rapid visco analyzer(RVA) indicated that the higher the swelling power,the higher the peak viscosity and breakdown value of paste,and the pasting property was also affected by protein and amylose ingredients.The results of rheological properties determined using rheological rheometer showed that at same temperature,the storage modulus G′ of flour,starch and modified starch of indica rice were higher than that of japonica rice respectively.For each variety,flour showed the highest G′,and lowest G′ of modified starch.
Effect of corn inclusion on soybean hull–based diet digestibility and growth performance in continuous culture fermenters and beef cattle

Two experiments were conducted using soybean hull (SH) diets with increasing corn proportions to determine increasing corn inclusion effects on fermentation characteristics, diet digestibility, and feedlot performance. The hypothesis was that fiber digestibility would quadratically respond to starch proportion in the diet with a break point where starch inclusion improved fiber digestion and feedlot performance. Proportionately, the diets contained 100:0 (SH100), 90:10 (SH90), 80:20 (SH80), 60:40 (SH60), or 20:80 SH:corn (SH20). In Exp. 1, diets were randomly distributed over 24 continuous culture fermenters and fed for 7 d. In Exp. 2, forty steers (347 ± 29 kg BW) and 50 heifers (374 ± 24 kg BW) were blocked by gender, stratified by BW, and distributed across diets. Cattle were fed for 70 d with titanium dioxide included in the diet for the final 14 d and fecal samples collected to measure digestibility. Individual DMI was measured using GrowSafe Feed Intake system. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS with diet evaluated as the fixed effect. In Exp. 1, NDF digestibility (NDFd) linearly decreased ( = 0.04) and ADF digestibility (ADFd) tended to linearly decrease ( = 0.09) as corn increased. Dry matter digestibility (DMd) was cubic ( = 0.01) and OM digestibility (OMd) was quadratic ( = 0.03), and among the 4 SH-based diets, DMd and OMd were greatest for SH90. Acetate:propionate ratio and pH were quadratic ( < 0.01) and greatest for SH80. In Exp. 2, ADG and G:F linearly increased ( < 0.01) as corn inclusion increased. Among the 4 SH-based diets, ADG was numerically greatest for SH80. There was no DMI difference ( ≥ 0.4) due to diet. As corn inclusion increased, DMd tended to linearly increase (P = 0.06), as did OMd ( = 0.05). Both NDFd and ADFd were quadratic ( = 0.04) and greatest for SH80. Overall, feedlot performance increased and fiber digestibility decreased as corn inclusion increased. However, based on continuous culture digestibility and VFA values as well as feedlot digestibility and performance, optimal corn inclusion for growth and diet utilization in the 4 SH-based diets fell between SH80 and SH90, or 0.4 and 0.2% BW corn supplementation. In this study, providing 0.4% BW corn supplementation in fiber-based diets (SH80) provided greater improvement in performance compared with 0.2% BW corn supplementation (SH90).
Basics of Microbial Ecology and Function in Urban Agriculture

In this chapter, we will explore the following topics: Soil as a complex multiphasic habitat for growing crops The form and function of soils microbes The connection between soil microbes , soil fertility, and plant health
Positive and Negative Cross-Talk between Lysophosphatidic Acid Receptor 1, Free Fatty Acid Receptor 4, and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in Human Prostate Cancer Cells

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a lipid mediator that mediates cellular effects via G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs). Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a peptide that acts via a receptor tyrosine kinase. LPA and EGF both induce proliferation of prostate cancer cells and can transactivate each other’s receptors. The LPA receptor LPA1 is particularly important for LPA response in human prostate cancer cells. Previous work in our laboratory has demonstrated that free fatty acid 4 (FFA4), a GPCR activated by ω-3 fatty acids, inhibits responses to both LPA and EGF in these cells. One potential mechanism for the inhibition involves negative interactions between FFA4 and LPA1, thereby suppressing responses to EGF that require LPA1. In the current study, we examined the role of LPA1 in mediating EGF and FFA4 agonist responses in two human prostate cancer cell lines, DU145 and PC-3. The results show that an LPA1-selective antagonist inhibits proliferation and migration to both LPA and EGF. Knockdown of LPA1 expression, using silencing RNA, blocks responses to LPA and significantly inhibits responses to EGF. The partial response to EGF that is observed after LPA1 knockdown is not inhibited by FFA4 agonists. Finally, the role of arrestin-3, a GPCR-binding protein that mediates many actions of activated GPCRs, was tested. Knockdown of arrestin-3 completely inhibits responses to both LPA and EGF in prostate cancer cells. Taken together, these results suggest that LPA1 plays a critical role in EGF responses and that FFA4 agonists inhibit proliferation by suppressing positive cross-talk between LPA1 and the EGF receptor.
Trends in gestational age at time of surgical abortion for fetal aneuploidy and structural abnormalities.

Background Screening for fetal aneuploidy has evolved over the past 2 decades. Whether these advances impact gestational age at abortion has received little study. Objective We sought to describe trends in the gestational age at the time of abortion by fetal diagnosis over an 11-year study period. We hypothesized that gestational age at time of abortion would decrease for fetal aneuploidy but remain unchanged for structural abnormalities. Study Design We conducted a retrospective case series of all women undergoing surgical abortion for fetal aneuploidy or structural abnormalities up to 24 weeks' gestation from 2004 through 2014 in a hospital operating room setting at a single, urban medical center. We excluded labor induction abortions ( Results For women undergoing abortion for fetal aneuploidy (n = 392), the median gestational age at time of abortion decreased from 19.0 weeks (interquartile range 18.0-21.0) in 2004 to 14.0 weeks (interquartile range 13.0-17.0) in 2014 (Kruskal-Wallis P P = .1). As gestational age decreased in the fetal aneuploidy group, fewer women underwent dilation and evacuation and more became eligible for suction aspiration ( 90% of women underwent dilation and evacuation for either indication. By 2014, 31% of women with fetal aneuploidy were eligible for suction aspiration compared to 11% of those with structural anomalies. Conclusion Gestational age at the time of abortion for fetal aneuploidy decreased substantially from 2004 through 2014; earlier abortion is safer for women. In contrast, women seeking abortion for fetal structural abnormalities did not experience a change in timing. Legislation restricting gestational age at the time of abortion could disproportionately affect women with fetal structural abnormalities.
Relationship between changes in vestibular sensory reweighting and postural control complexity

Complexity measures have become increasingly prominent in the postural control literature. Several studies have found associations between clinical balance improvements and complexity, but the relationship between sensory reweighting and complexity changes has remained unobserved. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between sensory reweighting via Wii Fit balance training and complexity. Twenty healthy adults completed 6 weeks of training. Participants completed the sensory organization test (SOT) before and after the sessions. Complexity of postural control was analyzed through sample entropy of the center-of-pressure velocity time series in the resultant, anterior–posterior (AP), and medial–lateral directions, and compared to SOT summary score changes. Significant differences were found between pre- and post-training for the condition five (p < .001, d = .525) and vestibular summary scores (p < .001, d = .611). Similarly, changes in complexity were observed from pre- to post-training in the resultant (p = .040, d = .427) direction. While the AP velocity was not significant (p = .07, d = .355), its effect size was moderate. A moderate correlation was revealed in the posttest between AP complexity and condition 5 (r = .442, p = .05), as well as between AP complexity and the vestibular summary score (r = .351, p = .13). The results of this study show that a moderate relationship exists between postural control complexity and the vestibular system, suggesting that complexity may reflect the neurosensory organization used to maintain upright stance.
Can economic profit influence public opinion? Observing generational change on cross-strait relations in Taiwan:

In the new millennium, the growing economic interdependency across the Taiwan Strait has stretched politico-economic “ambiguity” to the limit. To many observers, the recent bilateral trade pact, th...
Surveillance as a critical paradigm for Big Data

This chapter introduces some prominent concepts of surveillance and their application to Big Data. It outlines four problematic aspects of Big Data used for surveillance which need a critical engagement with surveillance beyond the question of what kind of knowledge such surveillance generates about the world. Those four aspects are the decoupling of generation and analysis of data, and the explorative character of the analysis – which are characteristic features of Big Data. S. Degli Esposti discerns four steps that comprise dataveillance: recorded observation, identification and tracking, analytical intervention, and behavioral manipulation. The chapter shows that the epistemic issues are often used for a critique of surveillance based on a representative model of data. The epistemic criticisms do not suffice to grasp the scope of critical issues brought about by using Big Data for surveillance.
POTENTIAL EFFECTS AND ADMINISTRATIVE FEASIBILITY OF ENERGY CONSERVATION STANDARDS FOR EXISTING HOMES

ABSTRACT We examine a possible energy conservation program in which all existing homes in the United States would have to meet an energy conservation standard when they are sold. The analysis shows that, with the significant amount of voluntary conservation activity occurring today, a mandatory standards program should be considered only if the energy standard imposed on the existing housing stock were relatively stringent. Whether the upgrading required by such a standard would be cost-effective for property owners depends on numerous factors that cannot be ascertained with any certainty. Using optimistic assumptions, the program is economically attractive. The program would not be a financial burden for most households; however, low-income families and families who live in the warmer sections of the country (and therefore have fewer conservation measures in their homes) would probably bear a heavy burden. The impacts on credit and housing markets are expected to be relatively small. Developing an efficient administrative structure would be a major challange, although one could build on existing resources.
Crosstalk Between 5-HT 2A and mGlu2 Receptors: Implications in Schizophrenia and Its Treatment

Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder that affects 1% of the population worldwide. The serotonin and glutamate receptor systems have been implicated in schizophrenia and its treatment. Serotonin 5-HT2A receptor is target of hallucinogens such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocin, as well as involved in the mechanism of action of atypical antipsychotic drugs such as clozapine and risperidone. The metabotropic glutamate 2 (mGlu2) receptor modulates the physiological responses induced by the 5-HT2A receptor, and preclinical and clinical work suggests that this glutamate receptor may represent a new approach to treat schizophrenia. Here we review recent advances in our understanding of the crosstalk between these two receptors, as well as their implication in schizophrenia and antipsychotic drug action.
Wind Erosion Potential Influenced by Tillage in an Irrigated Potato–Sweet Corn Rotation in the Columbia Basin

Wind erosion is a concern within the Columbia Basin of the US Inland Pacific Northwest (PNW) due to soils being sandy and retaining little residue after harvest of vegetable crops like potato. This study assessed potential wind erosion of a 3-yr irrigated potato (Solanum tuberosum L. ‘Ranger Russet’)–sweet corn (Zea mays L. ‘Triple Super Sweet’)–sweet corn rotation subject to conventional and reduced tillage. Sediment flux was measured inside a portable wind tunnel after primary tillage of potato in autumn 2009 and sowing potato and sweet corn in spring 2010. Soil and crop residue characteristics that influence wind erosion were measured concurrently with sediment flux. Soil loss differed among crops in autumn 2009 and between tillage treatments in spring 2010. Soil loss was greater from potato (approached 1 Mg ha–¹ min–¹) than first or second year corn (approached 0.1 Mg ha–¹ min–¹) and from conventional (approached 1 Mg ha–¹ min–¹) than reduced tillage (approached 0.3 Mg ha–¹ min–¹). Simulations by the Wind Erosion Prediction System (WEPS) showed most of the erosion over the 3-yr rotation occurred after harvest of potato in September to the following March. Differences in soil loss among crop treatments or between tillage practices were likely due to differences in residue cover and/or silhouette area. Since wind erosion was most apparent after harvest of potato and from conventional tillage, cover crops should be established soon after harvest and reduced tillage practices adopted to protect the soil from wind erosion in the Columbia Basin.
Automated Identification of Potential Conflict-of-Interest in Biomedical Articles Using Hybrid Deep Neural Network

Conflicts-of-interest (COI) in biomedical research may cause ethical risks, including pro-industry conclusions, restrictions on the behavior of investigators, and the use of biased study designs. To ensure the impartiality and objectivity in research, many journal publishers require authors to provide a COI statement within the body text of their articles at the time of peer-review and publication. However, author’s self-reported COI disclosure often does not explicitly appear in their article, and may not be very accurate or reliable. In this study, we present a two-stage machine learning scheme using a hybrid deep learning neural network (HDNN) that combines a multi-channel convolutional neural network (CNN) and a feed-forward neural network (FNN), to automatically identify a potential COI in online biomedical articles. HDNN is designed to simultaneously learn a syntactic and semantic representation of text, relationships between neighboring words in a sentence, and handcrafted input features, and achieves a better performance overall (accuracy exceeding 96.8%) than other classifiers such as support vector machine (SVM), single/multi-channel CNNs, Long Short-term Memory (LSTM), and an Ensemble model in a series of classification experiments.
Baseball and Softball

Baseball and softball are very popular sports at all levels of play and are considered limited contact sports. Recreational players typically have a poor level of conditioning, and many softball players will play well into their adult years. The evolution of baseball and softball cleats has basically followed the same pattern as football and soccer shoes. Surfaces are natural or artificial turf in the field and dirt or clay on the infield base paths. Metal cleats are primarily for high school, college, and professional players; however, metal cleats are allowed in some junior and senior divisions in Little League Baseball. In recent years there has been an explosion of female participation in softball leagues from youth through professional teams.
Peripheral Endocrines in Bat Reproduction

Publisher Summary Most bat species exhibit only one or two reproductive cycles per year, typically producing a single young. This chapter reviews the current knowledge about some of the non-reproductive endocrine factors in bats and assesses their possible interactions in modulating reproductive timing. The chapter pays particular attention to the role of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in asynchronous reproductive cycles. Many endocrine factors that are classically considered non-reproductive or peripheral to the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis have been implicated in the control of reproductive processes. These include hormones of the thyroid, adrenal and pancreas, as well as specific extracellular binding proteins for these hormones and for the sex steroids. In certain vespertilionid and rhinolophid bats, males undergo spermatogenesis in one season and mate in another, storing their sperm in the reproductive tract. Strategies such as these enable bats to separate the different components of their reproductive cycle, timing energetically expensive parts with maximum food availability. Such asynchronous (disassociative) reproduction depends on monitoring environmental changes and selectively initiating appropriate reproductive responses. The linking of internal conditions for optimal reproductive effort with environmental changes likely involves the central nervous system and a variety of reproductive and peripheral endocrine regulatory factors.
The Dying Patient in the Critical Care Setting: Making the Critical Difference

Death is an inevitable fact in the critical care setting. This fact does not make it more comfortable for the nurse who is caring for a critically ill patient who is dying. Some health care providers have recommended that the critical care resources are better utilized for the patient whose prognosis is not death. This position can be countered with the perspective that there may be no better place to provide the intensive nursing care that the dying patient may need than the critical care setting. A new nursing diagnosis, Terminal Syndrome related to the dying process is introduced to assist the nurse in providing comprehensive care for what is often a complex patient care situation. The goal is to achieve for each dying individual in the critical care setting what she or he truly desires, an end to the life process, a death achieved with comfort and dignity.
Chemical and Isotopic Cycling in Subduction Zones

Subduction zones are avenues for the delivery of crustal, atmospheric, and oceanic (including organic) components to the mantle and understanding of subduction zone chemical and isotopic cycling is central to many models of crust–mantle–atmosphere evolution. During subduction, diagenetic and metamorphic reactions and related geochemical effects can profoundly influence the element inventory and isotopic composition of subducting slabs to depths beneath volcanic arcs and as they enter the deeper mantle. Physical juxtaposition of chemically disparate rocks and the generation and mobility of various fluids lead to myriad metasomatic effects in subduction zones. Larger scale manifestations of such processes include the mass transfer that leads to arc magmatism and convergent margin volatile cycling. Subduction zone metasomatism is initiated at very shallow levels, as oceanic slabs entering trenches bend and are infiltrated by seawater, and as sedimentary sections experience physical compaction, fluid expulsion, and diagenetic alteration. Studies of forearc fluid geochemistry track this shallow-level metasomatic alteration, and high- and ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rock suites provide records of fluid generation and flow, and related metasomatism, to depths exceeding those beneath volcanic fronts. Subduction zone processes act as a geochemical filter, altering the compositions of deeply subducting rocks and generating outputs such as arc magmas (and associated volcanic gases) and chemically and isotopically modified rocks. The latter enter the deeper mantle and influence its long-term geochemical evolution.
Policy Knowledge: Advocacy Organizations

Substantive policy knowledge consists of beliefs dealing with the seriousness of a policy problem, its causes, and the expected impacts of policy alternatives. Such knowledge is utilized by various advocacy organizations—interest groups, administrative agencies, legislatures, consulting firms, media organizations—in the process of formulating and implementing public policy. This article discusses four different theoretical frameworks for understanding that process: (a) a ‘civics textbook’ approach, (b) an ‘atheoretical skeptics’ perspective, (c) the ‘multiple streams’ approach, and (d) the ‘advocacy coalition framework.’ They differ in their assumptions regarding the possibility of ‘unbiased’ policy knowledge and their degree of sophistication regarding the political and institutional context of policy-making.
On measuring the fracture energy of model metallic glasses

We report a heuristic approach to measure the fracture energy of model metallic glasses using molecular dynamics simulation. Specifically, we adopted the Rivlin-Thomas method, simplified by Suo et al., which is applicable even with the presence of plastic flow. We further modified the testing condition with semi-rigid holders in our molecular simulations, to avoid unintended fracture near the holders. This method was first applied in measuring the fracture energy of a brittle model glass, which agrees well with direct K I C and J I C measurements (both measurements are independent of the crack size). Furthermore, the fracture energy values of a family of model metallic glasses, ranging from brittle to ductile (BTD), were measured. The Poisson's ratio-fracture energy (v-G, or v-G/2γ, normalized by the surface energy) relation obtained here exhibits a BTD transition at a critical Poisson's ratio of 0.31–0.32, consistent with experimental results.
Event Classification

Choosing a suitable set of signals for measurement in classification procedures is poorly understood. Since classification is generally associated with a decision process, this paper shows how the entire question is most sensibly formulated as a two-stage statistical decision process. The first decision involves the detection of some suitable inferential signal, while the second is the selection of a suitable course of action or a control policy. The paper discusses techniques for choosing a set of signals for measurement, subject to certain constraints that are imposed upon this selection process, and demonstrates that the classification procedure must be considered in conjunction with the associated decision or control process, if the most appropriate inferential signals are to be selected. In this formulation, pure classification occurs if the possible actions are chosen in a particular manner. The selection of the best signal or signals for measurement may be influenced significantly by the time-dependent nature of the statistical risk.
AB INITIO MOLECULAR ORBITAL CALCULATIONS OF ELECTRONIC EFFECTS ON THE KINETICS OF CYCLOPROPYLCARBINYL RADICAL RING OPENINGS

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations have been performed on the ring-opening reactions of cyclopropylcarbinyl radical analogues containing vinyl and methoxy substituents on the ring and for vin...
Null Hypothesis Statistical Significance Testing and z-Tests

In the previous chapter, we learned about the theory of statistical inference. This theory provides statisticians, researchers, and students with the background information they need to make inferences about a population based on sample data. This chapter builds upon that theoretical foundation by teaching about the simplest possible inferential statistics procedure: the z -test. Although z-tests are not common in social science research, learning the z -test is still important. Mastering a z -test will make the more complicated procedures discussed in later chapters easier to learn because those procedures are variations of a z -test that have been adapted to other types of data and research situations. Learning Goals • Execute the eight steps of null hypothesis statistical significance testing (NHST). • Conduct a z-test and explain how it fits into the general linear model (GLM). • Recognize how effect sizes can compensate for some of the weaknesses of the decision to reject or retain a null hypothesis. • Calculate and interpret Cohen's d for a z -test. • Define Type I and Type II errors and explain why it is always possible to commit one or the other when conducting a null hypothesis statistical significance test. Null Hypothesis Statistical Significance Testing The main purpose of this chapter is to transition from the theory of inferential statistics to the application of inferential statistics. The fundamental process of inferential statistics is called null hypothesis statistical significance testing (NHST) . All procedures in the rest of this textbook are a form of NHST, so it is best to think of NHSTs as statistical procedures used to draw conclusions about a population based on sample data. There are eight steps to NHST procedures: 1. Form groups in the data. 2. Define the null hypothesis (H0). The null hypothesis is always that there is no difference between groups or that there is no relationship between independent and dependent variables. 3. Set alpha (α). The default alpha = .05. 4. Choose a one-tailed or a two-tailed test. This determines the alternative hypothesis (H1). 5. Find the critical value, which is used to define the rejection region. 6. Calculate the observed value. 7. Compare the observed value and the critical value. If the observed value is more extreme than the critical value, then the null hypothesis should be rejected. Otherwise, it should be retained. 8. Calculate an effect size.
Hysteroscopic treatment of menorrhagia associated with uterine leiomyomas.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of hysteroscopic treatment of menorrhagia associated with uterine leiomyomas. METHODS: Fifty-one women with uterine myomas were treated for menorrhagia by hysteroscopic resection with or without endometrial ablation. Patients were followed for 1-5 years after treatment. RESULTS: The mean number of pads used during the heaviest day of menses decreased from 17.8 before treatment to 6.8 after treatment (P < .005) in women undergoing resection only, and from 21.4 to 1.7 pads per day in women whose treatment included endometrial ablation (P < .001). Two-thirds of the women who underwent ablation were completely amenorrheic after the procedure. Both groups experienced significant decreases in dysmenorrhea. Three patients subsequently underwent hysterectomy after hysteroscopic treatment, and one required a repeat hysteroscopic procedure. CONCLUSION: Hysteroscopic treatment of menorrhagia associated with uterine myomas can be effective in carefully selected patients.