cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prospective evaluation of toceranib phosphate in metastatic canine osteosarcoma

Efficacious therapies for measurable metastatic canine osteosarcoma (OSA) are generally lacking. Preliminary retrospective studies suggested that approximately 50% of dogs with measurable metastatic OSA experienced clinical benefit (objective response or clinically meaningful disease stabilisation) following toceranib (TOC) treatment. The purpose of this clinical trial was to prospectively evaluate the clinical outcome following TOC treatment in dogs with measurable pulmonary metastatic OSA. A secondary goal was to identify potential biomarkers of clinical benefit by measuring changes in plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and circulating regulatory T-cell (Treg) percentage. Twenty-two dogs with pulmonary metastasis from appendicular OSA having undergone previous amputation were treated prospectively with TOC. Adverse events (AEs) were common but predominantly low grade. Nine patients were withdrawn from the study prior to the week 8 assessment of response either due to progressive disease (PD), decreased quality of life or owner perceived unacceptable AEs. Of the patients evaluable for disease progression at week 8 (or earlier), 3/17 (17.6 %) had stable disease with the remainder having PD. The median progression-free survival time for all patients was 57 days (range 7-176 days) with a median overall survival time of 89 days (range 7-574 days). Plasma VEGF concentrations were significantly elevated in patients after 4 weeks of TOC treatment, but no changes were observed in percentage of Treg in peripheral blood. Overall, the results of this clinical trial do not support the use of TOC as single agent therapy for canine metastatic OSA.
Engineering agent-based software systems

Building software systems with using modules has been a popular trend. The concept of the 'module' has changed from a subroutine, to object, to component (DCOM, JavaBean) and now to an 'agent'. Various definitions of the agent have been used over the past few years. In general, a software agent is a component that can exhibit both proactive and reactive behaviors. It works in an autonomous mode and possibly has a capability to learn to improve its performance. Several agent-based systems have been built. Several methodologies and tools exist to aid the development of such systems. Several conferences dealing with the software engineering of agent-based systems have been held. But, the software engineering aspects seem to have taken a back seat, although some recent efforts have addressed this issue. The panel will concentrate on looking at the state-of-the-art in software engineering of agent-based systems and the directions needed. The panel will also address the issues involved in teaching this paradigm in computer science curricula. In particular, we will address the question: Do we need to do anything different in software engineering courses to accommodate this paradigm?
Insider Privileges

How does standard textbook economics analyze insider status in technology markets? It takes one of two perspectives. The first perspective stresses the cold logic of market competition, and the second stresses the ambiguities of the government’s influence. This essay summarizes the implications of each perspective and the troubling questions raised.
Bringing Data to Life: Interactive Visualizations of Complex Data.

The advent of large, information-rich data sets partnered with advanced computation has made it increasingly possible to inject life into data through interactive visualization. Brown and colleague...
Talking Religion: Religious Diversity in Study Abroad Advising.

Religion is an important element in the lives of many students in the United States who study abroad. It is likewise an important element in many of the societies where these students go to study. Even so, there is very little in the literature about how to leverage religion to enhance the study abroad experience. This essay will look at the role of faith in US American society in the context of international education and will provide some suggestions on how study abroad practitioners can direct students to effectively use religion to learn about their host culture.
Abstract 11225: Trends in Atrial Fibrillation Hospitalizations From 1996 to 2010 Using Data From National Hospital Discharge Survey

Aims: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia encountered in clinical practice. Patients presenting with AF are often admitted to the hospital for rhythm or rate control, symptom man...
Applying video magnification for vision-based operating deflection shape evaluation on a wind turbine blade cross-section

Phase-based motion estimation and video magnification are non-contact and target-less efficient approaches that are being used to extract the operating deflection shapes of vibrating structures. In recent years, Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) and Experimental Modal Analysis (EMA) as the most well studied structural dynamics identification tools have benefited from the unique advantages that phase-based motion estimation and video magnification can offer. Within this study, the phase based motion estimation and video magnification techniques are adopted to perceive the operational deflection shapes and dominant vibration patterns in a Wind Turbine Blade (WTB) cross-section. Moreover, the estimated resonant frequencies are validate by the commercial accelerometer measurements as well that indicates the reliability of the results provided by phase-based motion estimation and video magnification. The identified vibrational operating deflection shapes and the resonant frequencies can be valuable information for design enhancement, as well as finite element model updating and model validation. Moreover, subcomponent structural studies can utilize the results obtained from the vision-based OMA test on the cross-section of the wind turbine blade.
New paper-based microfluidic tools for the analysis of blood serum protein and creatinine built via aerosolized deposition of polycaprolactone

This article describes a low-cost method for rapid fabrication of paper-based microfluidic devices using an aerosolized polymeric solution and substrates masked with painter's tape. This approach requires only a few simple tools and uses low-cost supplies to achieve fully functional microfluidic paper-based analytical devices. The method is capable of producing devices with minimum hydrophilic channel widths of 482 ± 4 μm, with the channel height being dictated by the substrate thickness. Complete hydrophobic barriers can be achieved with widths of only 257 ± 2 μm. This technique enables two dimensional (2D) fluidic pattern fabrication on a single membrane while complex three dimensional (3D) fluidic pattern fabrication is possible by simply incorporating a stack and lamination step. Devices built using this approach were applied in two clinical diagnostic applications: quantitative colorimetric assays for protein and for creatinine.
Prevention techniques for a temporal planner

Research in domain independent planning has concentrated on making desired facts (goals) become true, with less attention on preventing undesired facts (negative goals) from becoming true. This document presents preliminary work towards a temporal-based model of prevention, based on Allen and Koomen's temporal planner. The temporal model permits more expressive prevention problems and a more powerful prevention-oriented planner. Negative goals are temporally constrained—for instance, we can direct the planner to prevent a fact F from occurring before, after, or during a specific goal, between two temporally separated goals, etc. The planner can find solutions which allow F to become true at any time outside of the specified interval or which never allow F to become true. The temporal model permits the idea of delaying F after the interval, as well as terminating it before the interval. This paper describes a set of prevention techniques which have been implemented in a temporal planner and discusses necessary requirements for a more complete preventive planner.
Fluctuations in Type-II Superconductors: A Dense Vortex Plasma Picture

The critical fluctuations in type-II superconductors near H C2 (T) exhibit certain universal features due to the constraint on the form of the order parameter imposed by the external magnetic field. We discuss the physical consequences of this constraint and outline the description of fluctuations which provides a unified picture of the behavior of type-II superconductors both above and below H C2 (T).
Lead Shielding in Pediatric Chest CT: Effect of Apron Placement Outside the Scan Volume on Radiation Dose Reduction.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to quantify the dose reduction resulting from the use of lead aprons for pediatric chest CT as a function of the distance between the apron and the bottom o...
An assessment of the performance of the logistic mixed model for analyzing binary traits in maize and sorghum diversity panels

The logistic mixed model (LMM) is well-suited for the genome-wide association study (GWAS) of binary agronomic traits because it can include fixed and random effects that account for spurious associations. The recent implementation of a computationally efficient model fitting and testing approach now makes it practical to use the LMM to search for markers associated with such binary traits on a genome-wide scale. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to assess the applicability of the LMM for GWAS in crop diversity panels. We dichotomized three publicly available quantitative traits in a maize diversity panel and two quantitative traits in a sorghum diversity panel, and them performed a GWAS using both the LMM and the unified mixed linear model (MLM) on these dichotomized traits. Our results suggest that the LMM is capable of identifying statistically significant marker-trait associations in the same genomic regions highlighted in previous studies, and this ability is consistent across both diversity panels. We also show how subpopulation structure in the maize diversity panel can underscore the LMM’s superior control for spurious associations compared to the unified MLM. These results suggest that the LMM is a viable model to use for the GWAS of binary traits in crop diversity panels and we therefore encourage its broader implementation in the agronomic research community.
When and How to Diversify—A Multi-Category Utility Model for Personalized Content Recommendation

The diversity of a set of recommendations can improve consumers’ satisfaction with the personalized recommender system. However, diversifying a list of products for a one-shot recommendation sacrifices relevance, which can reduce its value. We identify a popular scenario, sessions of online news consumption, where one can increase the diversity of recommendations over the entire session while improving the relevance of each recommendation within the session. Our approach is based on a multi-category utility model that captures consumers’ preference towards different types of content, how quickly they satiate with one type and substitute it with another, and how they trade off their own costly search efforts with selecting from the recommended articles to find new content. Taken together, these three elements enable us to characterize how utility maximizing consumers construct diverse “baskets” of content over the course of each session, and how likely they are to click on content recommended to them. We estimate this model using a clickstream dataset from a large international media outlet and apply it to determine the most relevant content at different stages of an online session. We demonstrate that by taking into account how consumers sequentially select content from different categories over time within a session, we not only recommend more diverse content over a session, but also recommend more relevant content than methods that do not incorporate such information. The diversity of the content recommended by the proposed approach closely matches the diversity sought by individual readers in their actual natural consumption — exhibiting the lowest concentration-diversification bias when compared to other personalized recommender systems. Meanwhile, the proposed approach makes 6%–11% more accurate recommendations than optimized alternatives. Using a policy simulation, we estimate that recommending content using the proposed approach would result in visitors reading 57% additional articles at the studied website, which has direct revenue implication for the publisher of this site.
FogBDA: Incorporating Data Analytics in Fog Layer for Real-Time Applications

Despite the expansive utilization of Fog computing, most of the real-time applications and quality services have not still benefitted from this computing paradigm due to cohesive problem of latency, location-awareness and lack of mobility support and awareness about the device condition. As a result, FogBDA has emerged as an encouraging platform to provide flexible resources at the edge of network. The paper discusses the current paradigm of Fog computing and proposes an extensive architecture. It also analyzes the designing goals and challenges in the FogBDA platform and presents the platform design with several illustrative applications. Further, a simulation model is illustrated in order to measure the efficacy of the proposed model. The simulated results depict the decreased response time and cost as compared to cloud.
Photoelectron-photofragment coincidence spectroscopy of the dissociative photodetachment of I2- at 258 and 266 nm

Photoelectron-photofragment coincidence (PPC) spectroscopy is used to examine the dissociative photodetachment (DPD) of I2− at 266 and 258 nm in a kinematically complete manner. The resonance enhan...
Enforcing Optimal Moving Target Defense Policies

This paper introduces an approach based on control theory to model, analyze and select optimal security policies for Moving Target Defense (MTD) deployment strategies. A Markov Decision Process (MDP) scheme is presented to model states of the system from attacking point of view. The employed value iteration method is based on the Bellman optimality equation for optimal policy selection for each state defined in the system. The model is then utilized to analyze the impact of various costs on the optimal policy. The MDP model is then applied to two case studies to evaluate the performance of the model.
Quantitative Hypothetical System Models for Cecil Soil-Sand Systems

This chapter describes the physicochemical and biotic partitioning of phenolic acids in Cecil soil and Cecil soil-sand systems plus or minus microorganisms and cucumber seedlings (Cucumis sativus) treated with phenolic acids with an emphasis on p-coumaric acid and presents quantitative data for how phenolic acids may be partitioned in hypothetical cucumber seedling-microbe-Cecil A horizon soil-sand systems. Hypothetical models for two types of systems are provided, a continuous-input column system and a multiple-input cup system.
Correction to: Serum CA19-9 Response to Neoadjuvant Therapy Predicts Tumor Size Reduction and Survival in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.

In the original article, Caroline J. Rieser’s last name is spelled wrong. It is correct as reflected here.
Realistic modeling of a particle–matter-interaction system for controlling the momentum spread of muon beams

Abstract The goal of the Muon g-2 Experiment is to measure the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon with a precision of 140 ppb; this is achieved by observing the polarization of muon decays in a precisely designed storage ring. Unfortunately, 90% of the injected beam is lost in apertures since it has a rms momentum spread that is an order of magnitude larger than the ring’s acceptance. In this study, we investigate the use of a wedge absorber for reducing the momentum spread of a muon beam. This technique relies on an interplay between ionization cooling and emittance exchange. We present the outcomes of tracking simulations and examine in detail the impact of the absorber length in reducing the momentum spread of the beam. Overall, we illustrate that the wedge has a positive impact on the Muon g-2 Experiment as it can increase the intensity of the storable beam. The technique discussed here may serve as an important a tool for momentum control of next generation secondary-beam-based experiments.
Depth-Differentiation and Seasonality of Planktonic Microbial Assemblages in the Monterey Bay Upwelling System.

Coastal upwelling regions are hotspots of biological productivity, supporting diverse communities of microbial life and metabolisms. Monterey Bay (MB), a coastal ocean embayment in central California, experiences seasonal upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich waters that sustain episodes of high phytoplankton production in surface waters. While productivity in surface waters is intimately linked to metabolisms of diverse communities of Archaea and Bacteria, a comprehensive understanding of the microbial community in MB is missing thus far, particularly in relation to the distinct hydrographic seasons characteristic of the MB system. Here we present the results of a two-year microbial time-series survey in MB, investigating community composition and structure across spatiotemporal gradients. In deciphering these patterns, we used unique sequence variants (SVs) of the 16S rRNA gene (V4-V5 region), complemented with metagenomes and metatranscriptomes representing multiple depth profiles. We found clear depth-differentiation and recurring seasonal abundance patterns within planktonic communities, particularly when analyzed at finer taxonomic levels. Compositional changes were more pronounced in the upper 0 - 40 m of the water column, whereas deeper depths were characterized by temporally stable populations. In accordance with the dynamic nutrient profiles, the system appears to change from a Bacteroidetes- and Rhodobacterales-dominated upwelling period to an oceanic season dominated by oligotrophic groups such as SAR11 and picocyanobacteria. The cascade of environmental changes brought about by upwelling and relaxation events thus impacts microbial community structure in the bay, with important implications for the temporal variability of nutrient and energy fluxes within the MB ecosystem. Our observations emphasize the need for continued monitoring of planktonic microbial communities in order to predict and manage the behavior of this sensitive marine sanctuary ecosystem, over projected intensification of upwelling in the region.
Prevalence and risk factors of intimate partner violence among Chinese immigrant women.

Aims To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of intimate partner violence among Chinese immigrant women residing in the USA. Design A cross-sectional study using the online survey approach. Methods A total of 475 Chinese immigrant women were recruited online between April-June 2019. We measured past year intimate partner violence, sociodemographic, relationship-related and immigration-related factors, religion, social support, acculturation, adverse childhood experiences, and gender role beliefs. Results Twenty-one percent of Chinese immigrant women experienced past year intimate partner violence. Younger age, cohabiting relationship, lower levels of relationship satisfaction and social support, older age at arrival, longer length of stay, religious belief, and adverse childhood experiences were associated with the occurrence of intimate partner violence. Conclusion Chinese immigrant women experience higher rates of intimate partner violence compared with other populations of women. Future research is still needed to elucidate abused Chinese immigrant women's violence experiences, help-seeking behaviours, availability of resources and needs for services to tailor prevention and intervention programs culturally. Impact The findings added to our understanding of intimate partner violence among this largest Asian immigrant group. Modifiable risk factors such as social support should be targeted in future preventions and interventions for abused Chinese immigrant women residing in the USA.
Reaction Rate Theory

IN CHAPTERS 15 AND 16, WE SAW THAT ELEMENTARY REACTIONS may be unimolecular, bimolecular, or termolecular. In a unimolecular step, a molecule with excess energy concentrates enough energy in the bond or bonds to be broken and movement to product occurs. In a bimolecular or termolecular step, the reactant molecules come together in an inelastic collision. When enough kinetic energy is transformed to potential energy, movement to products occurs. In most cases, these processes involve passage over a potential energy barrier, as figureindicates.
N5-Scaling Excited-State-Specific Perturbation Theory.

We show that by working in a basis similar to that of the natural transition orbitals and using a modified zeroth-order Hamiltonian, the cost of a recently introduced perturbative correction to excited-state mean field theory can be reduced from seventh to fifth order in the system size. The (occupied)2(virtual)3 asymptotic scaling matches that of ground-state second-order Moller-Plesset theory but with a significantly higher prefactor because the bottleneck is iterative: it appears in the Krylov-subspace-based solution of the linear equation that yields the first-order wave function. Here, we discuss the details of the modified zeroth-order Hamiltonian we use to reduce the cost and the automatic code generation process we used to derive and verify the cost scaling of the different terms. Overall, we find that our modifications have little impact on the method's accuracy, which remains competitive with singles and doubles equation-of-motion coupled cluster.
Sterile neutrino searches at tagged kaon beams

Tagged kaon beams are attractive neutrino sources, which would provide flavor pure ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{e}$ beams with exactly measured normalization. We point out that this also leads to an antitagged flavor pure ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}$ beam, with equally well-known normalization. Exposing a 1 kt liquid argon detector at a baseline of 1 km to this combination of unique beams allows us to decisively test recent indications by IceCube and Neutrino-4 of sterile neutrino oscillations in the multi-eV range.
Special Functions in the Computer Era

The tables of functions which formed so important a tool of the older generation of theoretical scientists have been replaced by subprograms, and the professional table makers, who contributed not only a great deal of computational effort, but a frequently unrecognized component of numerical and analytical knowledge and experience, have been superseded by numerical analysts specializing in constructing subprograms.
Memcomputing with membrane memcapacitive systems.

We show theoretically that networks of membrane memcapacitive systems—capacitors with memory made out of membrane materials—can be used to perform a complete set of logic gates in a massively parallel way by simply changing the external input amplitudes, but not the topology of the network. This polymorphism is an important characteristic of memcomputing (computing with memories) that closely reproduces one of the main features of the brain. A practical realization of these membrane memcapacitive systems, using, e.g., graphene or other 2D materials, would be a step forward towards a solid-state realization of memcomputing with passive devices.
Physiologically-based pharmacokinetic modeling to support bioequivalence and approval of generic products: A case for diclofenac sodium topical gel, 1%

Establishing bioequivalence (BE) for dermatological drug products by conducting comparative clinical end point studies can be costly and the studies may not be sufficiently sensitive to detect certain formulation differences. Quantitative methods and modeling, such as physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling, can support alternative BE approaches with reduced or no human testing. To enable PBPK modeling for regulatory decision making, models should be sufficiently verified and validated (V&V) for the intended purpose. This report illustrates the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of a generic diclofenac sodium topical gel that was based on a totality of evidence, including qualitative and quantitative sameness and physical and structural similarity to the reference product, an in vivo BE study with PK end points, and, more importantly, for the purposes of this report, a virtual BE assessment leveraging dermal PBPK modeling and simulation instead of a comparative clinical end point study in patients. The modeling approach characterized the relationship between systemic (plasma) and local (skin and synovial fluid) diclofenac exposure and demonstrated BE between the generic and reference products at the presumed site of action. Based on the fit-for-purpose modeling principle, the V&V process involved assessing observed data of diclofenac concentrations in skin tissues and plasma, and the overall performance of the modeling platform for relevant products. Using this case as an example, this report provides current scientific considerations on good practices for model V&V and the establishment of BE for dermatological drug products when leveraging PBPK modeling and simulation for regulatory decision making.
Reconceptualizing Assistance for Young Children of Color With Disabilities in an Inclusion Classroom

In this article, we draw on DisCrit to critically analyze how a group of early childhood educators approached assistance with young children of color with disabilities in a Head Start inclusion cla...
Temporary Takings, More or Less

In accord with the Supreme Court’s 1987 decision in First English, when a property owner successfully challenges a regulation as a taking and the government chooses to repeal that offending regulation, the government must pay compensation for losses sustained during the period for which that regulation was in effect, regardless of whether the regulation originally was enacted in good faith. This book chapter introduces a conception of ownership grounded in humility that recognizes the limited reach of human knowledge and the variability of our normative positions. It suggests that a conception of ownership grounded in humility calls for a more contextual analysis in temporary takings cases than First English and its recent progeny, Arkansas Game and Koontz, allow, and raises for discussion the possibility that such an analysis might appropriately turn in part on whether the governmental entity acted in good faith when attempting to update property rules via regulation.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Appointment, Reappointment, Promotion, and Tenure Criteria: Does It Matter?

University faculty are called upon to address complex, contemporary problems using interdisciplinary approaches. But do appointment, reappointment, promotion, and tenure (ARPT) criteria reflect and reward this fundamental change in the nature of scholarly inquiry? We conducted a content analysis of ARPT criteria at one university to determine how interdisciplinary work is valued across disciplines and over time. We found noteworthy differences between colleges and disciplines: generally, creative disciplines placed higher value on individual contributions, while the sciences supported interdisciplinary work. The emphasis on interdisciplinary work over time increased in only a few disciplines, as criteria became more current.
Electronic health record note review in an outpatient specialty clinic: who is looking?

Note entry and review in electronic health records (EHRs) are time-consuming. While some clinics have adopted team-based models of note entry, how these models have impacted note review is unknown in outpatient specialty clinics such as ophthalmology. We hypothesized that ophthalmologists and ancillary staff review very few notes. Using audit log data from 9775 follow-up office visits in an academic ophthalmology clinic, we found ophthalmologists reviewed a median of 1 note per visit (2.6 ± 5.3% of available notes), while ancillary staff reviewed a median of 2 notes per visit (4.1 ± 6.2% of available notes). While prior ophthalmic office visit notes were the most frequently reviewed note type, ophthalmologists and staff reviewed no such notes in 51% and 31% of visits, respectively. These results highlight the collaborative nature of note review and raise concerns about how cumbersome EHR designs affect efficient note review and the utility of prior notes in ophthalmic clinical care.
Faster Perturbed Stochastic Gradient Methods for Finding Local Minima

Escaping from saddle points and finding local minima is a central problem in nonconvex optimization. Perturbed gradient methods are perhaps the simplest approach for this problem. However, to find $(\epsilon, \sqrt{\epsilon})$-approximate local minima, the existing best stochastic gradient complexity for this type of algorithms is $\tilde O(\epsilon^{-3.5})$, which is not optimal. In this paper, we propose \texttt{Pullback}, a faster perturbed stochastic gradient framework for finding local minima. We show that Pullback with stochastic gradient estimators such as SARAH/SPIDER and STORM can find $(\epsilon, \epsilon_{H})$-approximate local minima within $\tilde O(\epsilon^{-3} + \epsilon_{H}^{-6})$ stochastic gradient evaluations (or $\tilde O(\epsilon^{-3})$ when $\epsilon_H = \sqrt{\epsilon}$). The core idea of our framework is a step-size ``pullback'' scheme to control the average movement of the iterates, which leads to faster convergence to the local minima. Experiments on matrix factorization problems corroborate our theory.
Admission Control for URLLC Users in 5G Networks

Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communications (URLLC) are one of the service types supported by 5G. These are characterized by a high reliability of delivering packets within a short deadline. To fulfill these stringent requirements, a special care must be taken to determine the required data rate of a user, given its traffic intensity and channel conditions. Furthermore, with the network resources being limited and the competition between the users in the cell, an important question that arises is that of admission control, so that the admitted users do not experience performance deterioration. In this paper, we provide the analysis that leads to an admission control policy. We do this for two types of users in terms of their traffic intensities and channel conditions: 1) homogeneous users, and 2) heterogeneous users. We validate our results on a trace. Results show that the number of admitted users depends on the traffic intensity and the worst channel conditions. An increase in traffic intensity by 3 times can decrease the number of admitted users by almost 35%.
Laboratory Diagnosis of Chlamydial Infection

No single test for laboratory identification of chlamydial infection is entirely satisfactory. Three approaches have commonly been used: visualization of inclusions in direct smears, serologic methods, and growth of the organism from clinical specimens in tissue culture. All three methods have specific areas of usefulness, as well as drawbacks which limit their applicability.
Accessibility: an evaluation using consumer welfare

This study explores the worth consumers place on mode-destination accessibility for the AM journey to work trip. To accomplish this, a multinomial mode-destination choice model is estimated and the denominator of the specified logit model is used as an estimate of mode-destination accessibility. To improve the interpretability of this measure, compensating variation is then applied to convert the mode-destination accessibility to units of dollars per AM journey to work trip. The model is estimated using travel survey data from the Puget Sound Region in Washington state. It is reasonable to assume, for example, that the worth placed on mode-destination accessibility varies by mode, by destination, and by market segment (e.g., low income, high income). Less intuitive, however, are the magnitude and direction of these variations. This paper presents a methodological approach, followed by an empirical evaluation, for examining the worth of journey to work mode- destination accessibility. The results have important policy implications and also provide a mechanism for incorporating a monetary value for accessibility in future cost-benefit analyses.
Anger Management and Gender Differences

Abstract An undergraduate college classroom teaching report concerning anger constructs and management used a pilot and later expanded assessment of self-reported anger triggers, expressions, and themes for 133 women and 156 men. The intervention is discussed within the context of reported anger research and changing content as processed within a classroom setting. It was hypothesized that there would be gender differences in reported statements about anger. Trigger themes revealed significant gender differences concerning feelings of inferiority, injustice in the world, drivers of automobiles, people who know everything, and acts of stupidity whereas internal/external trigger sources were not significantly different. Anger expression differences were significant for anger/controlled expressions. Thematic analysis for anger/out showed significantly more physical expression for men and verbal expression for women. Raters found women's more verbally complex responses more difficult to classify than men's re...
How price reform revolutionized the operational discipline of India's power sector

The development of an incentive-based tariff scheme has had a significant impact on the operation of the Indian power sector. Voltage fluctuations have been minimized, greater supply made available, and costs reduced. All this was achieved through the ABT (availability-based tariff) introduced in 2000. This paper considers the development, implementation, and results of this sector's change bulk tariff system.
The Duke Rape Case Five Years Later: Lessons for the Academy, the Media, and the Criminal Justice System

This article takes a closer look at the Duke Rape Case by analyzing the book Institutional Failures, a collection of essays that testifies to the immense damage wrought by the failure of three systems of control: the University, by failing to protect its students from a mob demanding quick justice; the media, when it reflexively bought the narrative of pampered white students run amok; and the criminal justice system, when it failed to accord the defendants the basic protections offered by North Carolina rules of criminal procedure. The author aims to clarify the contribution this book makes to an understanding of the case. The author describes and analyzes the content of the nine essays that make up the book, refers to related works, and offers a concluding evaluation of the book's likely impact. Then, using the analysis of this book as a base, the author develops his own analysis of the roots and significance of the Duke Rape case; thus revealing lessons to be learned from the failure of these institutions
Banyan models for the parallel implementation of the fast Fourier transform algorithm

Abstract We give banyan models for the fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithms for calculating the discrete Fourier transforms (DFT) of: (1) 2 k -point data; (2) -point; (3) two-dimensional ( n × n )-arrays of data and (4) μ-dimensional n μ -arrays of data. We discuss the parallel implementation of each of these FFT algorithms.
Structure and oxidation at quasicrystal surfaces

Abstract We have investigated the atomic and electronic structure, chemical composition, and oxidation characteristics of the surfaces of icosahedral, Al-rich quasicrystals, using a variety of surface-sensitive techniques (LEED, XPS, STM, AES). We have systematically investigated the way that these traits vary with preparation conditions (e.g. sputtering and then annealing to various temperatures, vs. fracture), with surface symmetry (e.g. 2f vs. 3f vs. 5f surfaces), and with bulk composition (e.g. i-Al–Pd–Mn vs. i-Al–Cu–Fe). We have also compared our results for the quasicrystals with results for crystalline approximants and other related crystalline phases. Our main conclusions are that, under specific conditions of sputter-annealing, the bulk atomic and electronic structures of the clean quasicrystal propagate to the surface. Also, the oxidation chemistry is dominated by that of the primary constituent, aluminum.
The interface between sputter-deposited gold thin films and ion-bombarded sapphire substrates

Abstract Pull-tests show that the adhesion strength of gold film sputter-deposited onto annealed and pre-sputtered sapphire is over 15 times higher than that of the film deposited onto as-received sapphire. The effects of ion beam bombardment on the sapphire substrate were investigated in situ with AES. Metallic aluminum was detected on the surface of sapphire substrates after irradiating for 3 min with 7 keV Ar + -ions. These results agree with TRIM calculations that yield preferential ion-beam etching. No metallic aluminum was formed at the surface when the ion bombardment was done at 3 keV for 3 min. The Au Al 2 O 3 interface was investigated using a new technique that takes advantage of the variable film thickness in the vicinity of a sputter-etched crater. This method not only allows for a non-destructive search of the interface but it also avoids a substantial ion damage to this region. Higher energy Auger peaks, which have higher Auger electron escape depth, revealed that a AuAlO compound formed at the interface. Formation of this compound, which is responsible for the strong metal-ceramic bonding, is due to ion-induced cleaning and reduction of the sapphire surface prior to gold film deposition.
Assessment and Instruction of Reading Skills: Results with Mexican-American Students.

Mexican-American students often demonstrate a reading delay. This apparent delay may be the result of several factors including inappropriate assessment, irrelevant instructional programs, second-language instruction before students have fully mastered their native language, and an absence of special assistance. Reading ability is critical to academic success, which, in turn, plays an important role in social mobility. This paper includes an examination of the tenets of nonbiased assessment, an evaluation of tests for assessing Mexican-American students' reading skills, and a discussion of research relevant to reading instruction programs for limited-English proficient students. For educational equity to be attained, practitioners and researchers must continue efforts to develop new assessment instruments, standardize informal reading inventories and cloze tests, and explore the use of new instructional strategies for teaching reading to limited-English proficient students.
Multidecadal- to century-scale arid episodes on the northern Altiplano during the middle Holocene

Abstract We present reconstructions of multidecadal- to centennial-scale shifts in the hydrologic balance of the northern Altiplano during the middle Holocene using stable isotopic, geochemical, and sedimentologic evidence from Lake Titicaca sediments. Large downcore changes in the δ13Corg of bulk organic matter, previously shown to be a site-specific lake-level proxy, indicate that extended periods of lake-level regression occurred in response to sustained reductions in mean annual precipitation and/or increases in air temperature. Supporting evidence from a floating interval of finely-laminated sediments indicates that salinity and stratification were enhanced at Lake Titicaca during the middle Holocene. The age model used in this study is based on 7 AMS 14C age dates estimated from bulk decalcified sediment from a 60 cm sequence spanning 7200–5600 14C cal yr BP. Simulations from a hydrological-energy balance model of the Titicaca Basin indicate that the ∼ 38 m drop in lake level that preceded the maximum lowstand at ∼ 6200 yr BP would require a significant decrease in mean annual precipitation of up to 50% and/or a significant increase in mean annual temperature of up to 8 °C. Today, the Altiplano is often affected by drought during periods of enhanced summertime westerly wind flow, which reduces the delivery of moisture from the east. This investigation supports the idea of sustained periods of enhanced westerly air flow during the mid-Holocene and provides additional submillennial-scale information about the timing and magnitude of regional drought. Results of our frequency-domain analysis of the floating lamination interval indicate significant power at a decadal periodicity (10–12 yr) associated with the Schwabe cycle of solar activity. Frequency domain analysis also reveals power in a 75 year time series of modern lake level. We suspect that solar influence on large-scale atmospheric circulation features results in changes to the moisture balance in the Titicaca basin over decadal and possibly century-scale time periods.
Strength-Based Mentoring in Pre-Service Teacher Education: A Literature Review.

In order to better prepare pre‐service teachers for potential challenges in their first year of teaching, it is critical for both teacher educators and supervising teachers to provide strategies to strengthen pre‐service teachers' beliefs and maintain their motivation. In this article, strengths‐based theories are reviewed to provide a discussion on teacher mentoring approaches that offer an alternative to the more common problem‐based models. A strength‐based mentoring model in teacher education is presented, and measures and strategies developed from different strength‐based theories are applied to the six elements of this model.
Effect of shunted piezoelectric materials on increasing sound transmission loss

The application of electrically shunted piezoceramic materials (PZTs) for increasing transmission loss is studied. A test setup in an SAE J1400 facility is used to analyze the sound transmission loss due to a test plate with shunted PZTs, and to compare the results with an undamped plate and a plate with constrained-layer damping materials. The test results indicate that shunted PZTs can increase sound transmission loss by approximately 6 dB for a pure tune input at 162 Hz, and 7 dB for a broad band input of 10 - 10000 Hz. The test results further show that, compared to the constrained layer damping materials that are commonly used in the automotive industry, PZTs provide a substantially higher sound transmission loss-to-weight ratio.
Microwave pretreatment for enzymatic saccharification of sweet sorghum bagasse

Abstract Pretreatment of sweet sorghum bagasse (SSB) through microwave radiation was evaluated at four lime doses (0, 0.1, 0.15, and 0.2 g/g SSB), two water content of 10 or 20 ml/g SSB, and three exposure times as 2, 4, and 6 min. Optimal pretreatment condition was identified as 0.1 g lime and 10 ml water per g SSB in 4 min. Under this condition, sugar yield of 32.2 g/100 g SSB (equivalent to 52.6% of maximal potential sugars) was achieved. With the same water content and exposure time, but without lime, sugar yield of 39.8 g/100 g SSB (equivalent to 65.1% of maximal total sugars) was observed. The higher sugar recovery without lime was mainly due to high sugar release during pretreatment. But with lime, sugar degradation took place, which resulted in less sugar yield though lime did make cellulose more accessible to enzymes as evidenced by higher percentage of increase of total reducing sugars during enzymatic hydrolysis. Results from this study were strongly supported by FTIR and SEM images. Overall, in a very short time and simple setup, microwave radiation shows great promise to be a leading pretreatment technique for SSB.
Off-pump technique for Thoratec left ventricular assist device insertion

We present a case of left ventricular assist device (Thoratec; Thoratec Laboratories Corp, Pleasanton, CA) insertion performed through a left thoracotomy without cardiopulmonary bypass in a patient with severe end-stage congestive heart failure with renal and respiratory dysfunction and a history of multiple cardiac operations.
Modeling electric field transfer of excitation at cell junctions

The electric field (EF) model was first developed on a "breadboard" using physical electric components (e.g., resistors, capacitors, batteries) and was then modeled mathematically by a series of differential equations and matrix equations and simulated on a large computer (CDC-6400). The results obtained by the two methods agreed very closely. However, these two methods of analysis are quite cumbersome. Therefore, in order to simplify the EF simulation, we wanted to model it on the PSpice program. In this article we discuss how we succeeded in demonstrating transmission of excitation from cell to cell in cardiac muscle and smooth muscle based on EF transmission at the cell junctions.
Preferential looking acuity of pediatric patients with developmental disabilities.

Abstract The grating acuity of 181 patients from 6 weeks to 18 years of age who had neurological abnormalities and documented developmental delay was assessed using preferential looking (PL) procedures. PL acuities were estimated by a staircase procedure in 79% of all patients (143 of 181) on the first attempt. PL acuities were poorer than normal on the average in all patient groups, including those without ophthalmological disorders. However, PL acuities varied systematically with the severity of the eye disorder in each category, with two exceptions, high refractive error and nystagmus. Interocular acuity differences were sensitive to such asymmetric eye disorders as strabismic amblyopia and unilateral ocular abnormalities and enabled monitoring of occlusion therapy for these conditions. Many patients who were ‘visually inattentive’ despite the absence of major ophthalmological abnormalities were testable but had very poor acuity. This study evaluates the clinical applicability of PL procedures for routine assessment of visual acuity in pediatric patients with developmental disabilities.
Tunable optical delay hole burning and ground state depletion effects in cesium vapor

Optically tunable pulse delays in cesium vapor were demonstrated by pumping several D 2 transitions and burning holes in the D 1 absorption spectrum. A modified sub-Doppler absorption spectroscopy setup was used with counter propagating beams with a Gaussian 7-ns full-width at half-maximum probe pulse is scanned across the D 1 absorption spectrum. Probe laser optical delays followed Kramers-Kronig model prediction for Cs D 1 without D 2 pump laser. Optical control of pulse delay was demonstrated by varying pump intensity. Localized delay effects in agreement with model predictions were observed in the neighborhood of a burnt hole.
Reflections on the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations for screening for hypertension and hypercholesterolemia.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations for screening for hypertension and high blood cholesterol are generally consistent with preexisting national guidelines promulgated by the Joint National Committee for Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure and the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Cholesterol in Adults. While a welcome addition to the armamentarium of the clinician, the Task Force recommendations represent only a partial solution to our current epidemic of blood-pressure- and cholesterol-related cardiovascular disease. A meaningful reduction in society’s burden of cardiovascular disease can be achieved only by complementing the Task Force recommendations with community-based mass treatment strategies aimed at shifting the distribution of blood pressure and cholesterol toward a biologically more normal pattern.