cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Heuristic rational models in social networks

A network of social agents wants to minimize a global cost given by a sum of local terms involving convex nonlinear functions of self and neighboring variables. Agents update their variables at random times according to a random heuristic rule that is on average optimal with respect to the local cost given values of neighboring agents. When all agents apply heuristic rational optimization, convergence result shows that global cost visits a neighborhood of optimal cost infinitely often with probability 1. An exponential probability bound on the worst deviation from optimality between visits to near optimal operating points is also presented. Models of opinion propagation and voting are cast in the language of heuristic rational optimization. Numerical results are presented for the opinion propagation model on both geometric and small-world network structures.
Creep Properties of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Glass-Ceramic Seal G18

Abstract This study utilizes nanoindentation to investigate and measure creep properties of a barium calcium alumino-silicate glass–ceramic used for solid oxide fuel cell seals (SOFCs). Samples of the glass–ceramic seal material were aged for 5, 50, and 100 h to obtain different degrees of crystallinity. Instrumented nanoindentation was performed on the samples with different aging times at different temperatures to investigate the strain rate sensitivity during inelastic deformation. The temperature dependent behavior is important since SOFCs operate at high temperatures (800–1000 °C). Results show that the samples with higher crystallinity were more resistant to creep, and the creep compliance tended to decrease with increasing temperature, especially with further aged samples.
A Self-Sequestered Calmodulin-like Ca2+ Sensor of Mitochondrial SCaMC Carrier and Its Implication to Ca2+-Dependent ATP-Mg/Pi Transport

Summary The mitochondrial carriers play essential roles in energy metabolism. The short Ca 2+ -binding mitochondrial carrier (SCaMC) transports ATP-Mg in exchange for P i and is important for activities that depend on adenine nucleotides. SCaMC adopts, in addition to the transmembrane domain (TMD) that transports solutes, an extramembrane N-terminal domain (NTD) that regulates solute transport in a Ca 2+ -dependent manner. Crystal structure of the Ca 2+ -bound NTD reveals a compact architecture in which the functional EF hands are sequestered by an endogenous helical segment. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation rates indicated that removal of Ca 2+ from NTD results in a major conformational switch from the rigid and compact Ca 2+ -bound state to the dynamic and loose apo state. Finally, we showed using surface plasmon resonance and NMR titration experiments that free apo NTDs could specifically interact with liposome-incorporated TMD, but that Ca 2+ binding drastically weakened the interaction. Our results together provide a molecular explanation for Ca 2+ -dependent ATP-Mg flux in mitochondria.
Bifurcation analysis of the fully symmetric language dynamical equation.

In this paper, I study a continuous dynamical system that describes language acquisition and communication in a group of individuals. Children inherit from their parents a mechanism to learn their language. This mechanism is constrained by a universal grammar which specifies a restricted set of candidate languages. Language acquisition is not error-free. Children may or may not succeed in acquiring exactly the language of their parents. Individuals talk to each other, and successful communication contributes to biological (or cultural) fitness. I provide a full bifurcation analysis of the case where the parameters are chosen to yield a highly symmetric dynamical system. Populations approach either an incoherent steady state, where many different candidate languages are represented in the population, or a coherent steady state, where the majority of the population speaks a single language. The main result of the paper is a description of how learning reliability affects the stability of these two kinds of equilibria. I rigorously find all fixed points, determine their stabilities, and prove that all populations tend to some fixed point. I also demonstrate that the fixed point representing an incoherent steady state becomes unstable in an 𝒮n-symmetric transcritical bifurcation as learning becomes more reliable.
Management of neurogenic voiding dysfunction in the male patient

Management of neurogenic bladder in the male patient centers on identifying the optimal way to manage the lower urinary tract for the individual patient. Factors in this decision include intravesical detrusor storage pressures (and protection of the upper urinary tracts), upper extremity function and ability to perform intermittent catheterization, and patient preference when choosing between options such as intermittent catheterization versus condom catheter use. The medical community has come a long way from the days when the primary mode of management of neurogenic bladder included indwelling catheters or diapers. Patients today have several options for bladder management that when used appropriately can lead to significant improvements in urinary continence, quality of life, and patient independence. This paper reviews the various options available today as well as several potential therapies that may become available in the future.
Langmuir-Type Model for Anomalous Moisture Diffusion In Composite Resins:

Considerable evidence has recently been presented for anomalous mois ture diffusion in epoxy matrix composites. In an earlier paper we noted that there is no a priori reason why moisture should obey simple diffusion theory rather than Kirkwood's (linear) generalization of the Boltzmann transport equation. With the intent of keeping the analytical aspects of the moisture diffusion problem as simple as possible, we here present a slightly generalized but linear model which involves sources and sinks of diffusing water molecules. With respect to diffusive characteristics, our model is related to the simplest form of neutron transport theory. With respect to bound and unbound particles it is similar to the Langmuir theory of ad sorption isotherms, although we here assume bulk absorption in the resin with no implication that surfaces are involved. An approximation to our exact solution of the coupled linear differential equations is used to fit mildly anomalous moisture uptake curves for 5208 resin exposed to ...
Human Rvb1/Tip49 Is Required for the Histone Acetyltransferase Activity of Tip60/NuA4 and for the Downregulation of Phosphorylation on H2AX after DNA Damage

The role of chromatin-remodeling factors in transcription is well established, but the link between chromatin-remodeling complexes and DNA repair remains unexplored. Human Rvb1 and Rvb2 are highly conserved AAA(+) ATP binding proteins that are part of various chromatin-remodeling complexes, such as Ino80, SNF2-related CBP activator protein (SRCAP), and Tip60/NuA4 complexes, but their molecular function is unclear. The depletion of Rvb1 increases the amount and persistence of phosphorylation on chromatin-associated H2AX after the exposure of cells to UV irradiation or to mitomycin C, cisplatin, camptothecin, or etoposide, without increasing the amount of DNA damage. Tip60 depletion, but not Ino80 or SRCAP depletion, mimics the effect of Rvb1 depletion on H2AX phosphorylation. Rvb1 is required for the histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity of the Tip60 complex, and histone H4 acetylation is required prior to the dephosphorylation of phospho-H2AX. Thus, Rvb1 is critical for the dephosphorylation of phospho-H2AX due to the role of Rvb1 in maintaining the HAT activity of Tip60/NuA4, implicating the Rvb1-Tip60 complex in the chromatin-remodeling response of cells after DNA damage.
Aberrant p53 Expression in Feline Vaccine-associated Sarcomas and Correlation with Prognosis

Eighty spontaneously occurring feline vaccine-associated sarcomas (VAS) were evaluated to determine the immunohistochemical expression of the tumor suppressor gene p53. Sixty-five of 80 VAS (81%) e...
Selecting ELL Textbooks: A Content Analysis of Language-Teaching Models

Many middle school teachers lack adequate criteria to critically select materials that represent a variety of L2 teaching models. This study analyzes the illustrated and written content of 33 ELL textbooks to determine the range of L2 teaching models represented. The researchers asked to what extent do middle school ELL texts depict frequency and variation of language-teaching models in illustrations and written texts. Using content analysis, they measured the range of depiction of the 4 language-teaching models and concluded that 4 of the 33 textbooks had considerable to extensive frequency and variation of L2 teaching models.
Response to Comment on: Matsushita et al. (2010) The Association of Hemoglobin A1c With Incident Heart Failure Among People Without Diabetes: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. Diabetes;59:2020–2026

We appreciate the interest shown by Oda (1) in our article published in the August issue of Diabetes (2). He suggests that serum bilirubin may be a confounder in the association between …
Modeling the Electrical and Thermal Response of Superconducting Nanowire Single-Photon Detectors

We modeled the response of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors during a photodetection event, taking into consideration only the thermal and electrical properties of a superconducting NbN nanowire on a sapphire substrate. Our calculations suggest that heating which occurs after the formation of a photo-induced resistive barrier is responsible for the generation of a measurable voltage pulse. We compared this numerical result with experimental data of a voltage pulse from a slow device, i.e. large kinetic inductance, and obtained a good fit. Using this electro-thermal model, we estimated the temperature rise and the resistance buildup in the nanowire, and the return current at which the nanowire becomes superconducting again. We also show that the reset time of these photodetectors can be decreased by the addition of a series resistance and provide supporting experimental data. Finally we present preliminary results on a detector latching behavior that can also be explained using the electro-thermal model.
Intestinal permeability is reduced and IL-10 levels are increased in septic IL-6 knockout mice

Sepsis is associated with increased intestinal permeability, but mediators and mechanisms are not fully understood. We examined the role of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 in sepsis-induced increase in intestinal permeability. Intestinal permeability was measured in IL-6 knockout (IL-6 -/-) and wild-type (IL-6 +/+) mice 16 h after induction of sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture or sham operation. In other experiments, mice or intestinal segments incubated in Ussing chambers were treated with IL-6 or IL-10. Intestinal permeability was assessed by determining the transmucosal transport of the 4.4-kDa marker fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugated dextran and the 40-kDa horseradish peroxidase. Intestinal permeability for both markers was increased in septic IL-6 +/+ mice but not in septic IL-6 -/- mice. Treatment of nonseptic mice or of intestinal segments in Ussing chambers with IL-6 did not influence intestinal permeability. Plasma IL-10 levels were increased in septic IL-6 -/- mice, and treatment of septic mice with IL-10 resulted in reduced intestinal permeability. Increased intestinal permeability during sepsis may be regulated by an interaction between IL-6 and IL-10. Treatment with IL-10 may prevent the increase in mucosal permeability during sepsis.
An Exact Solution for Flow Transients in Two-Phase Systems by the Method of Characteristics

One of the important design considerations in modern watercooled nuclear reactors is their thermal performance during hypothetical accident situations. However, an accurate analysis of the system thermal-hydraulics is required before the thermal margins can be appraised. An analysis based on the method of characteristics has been developed by which the exact solution to flow decay transients in homogeneous two-phase systems can be obtained. The exact solution presented yields the system flow and quality at each point in space and time during an exponential flow decay transient. These parameters can then be combined with an appropriate critical heat flux (CHF) correlation to predict the occurrence of transient CHF. (auth)
Mid-infrared absorption microscopy with λ/100 spatial resolution using tunable quantum cascade lasers

Highly-sensitive mid-infrared microscopy is reported. Subwavelength resolution is achieved by detecting absorption through local sample expansion. High sensitivity is obtained by moving laser pulses repetition rate in resonance with the atomic force microscope cantilever eigenfrequency.
Effect of Incubation at Overwintering Temperatures on the Replication of West Nile Virus in New York Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae)

We examined the effect of simulated overwintering temperatures on West Nile (WN) virus replication in Culex pipiens L. derived from mosquitoes collected during the autumn 1999 WN epizootic in New York. The WN virus was a strain isolated from a dead crow also collected during this outbreak. Virus was recovered from most mosquitoes held exclusively at 26°C. In contrast, none of the mosquitoes held exclusively at the lower temperatures had detectable infections. When mosquitoes were transferred to 26°C after being held at 10°C for 21–42 d, infection and dissemination rates increased with increased incubation at 26°C. Future studies involving the attempted isolation of WN virus from overwintering mosquitoes may benefit from holding the mosquitoes at 26°C before testing for infectious virus.
Regional Price Parities and Real Regional Income for the United States

The success and expansion of the International Comparison Program (ICP) has led to an increase in interest and effort on the estimation of sub-national price levels and purchasing power parities (PPPs). The ICP highlighted a difficulty that large countries such as Brazil, Russia, India and China face during the price-collection phase, namely how to obtain average prices when there are large disparities in many types of expenditure categories, such as housing prices between rural and urban settings. The fact that such disparities were in evidence led to more research on within-country PPPs, or regional price parities (RPPs). The difference between a RPP and the PPPs is simply that the former are in the same currency, while PPPs are usually converted to a reference country or currency by the exchange rate, such as the United States Dollar or the Euro. This paper describes the methodology used to estimate the RPPs within the United States, and shows their effect on measures of income adjusted to constant dollars, termed real regional incomes.
Abstract 229: Determination of Phase-specific Biomarkers of Viral Myocarditis Induced by Theiler’s virus Using Multivariate Analyses of Viral Genome, Troponin, Transcriptome and Echocardiography Data

Viral myocarditis has been proposed to be initiated by viral replication in the heart (acute phase), followed by immune-mediated damage (subacute phase), where each phase requires anti-viral and immunomodulatory treatments, respectively. There are no specific biomarkers to distinguish acute from subacute phases of myocarditis while serum troponin, echocardiography, and myocardial biopsy data have been used for diagnosis clinically. To determine the phase-specific biomarkers, we used a mouse model for myocarditis induced by Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV), which belongs to the genus Cardiovirus, the family Picornaviridae. We conducted multivariate analyses of viral genome, serum cardiac troponin I, echocardiography, histology, and transcriptome using microarray data of the heart tissue harvested on 4 (acute) and 7 (subacute) days post infection (dpi). The level of viral RNA semi-quantified by RT-PCR was 10-fold higher on 4 dpi (ΔCt = 2.5×10-2 ± 4.9×10-3) than 7 dpi (ΔCt = 2.6×10-3 ± 3.0×10-4) (P
Assessment of Vocal Fold Function Using Transcutaneous Laryngeal Ultrasonography and Flexible Laryngoscopy.

Importance Evaluation of preoperative and postoperative vocal fold function is important in patients undergoing thyroid or parathyroid surgical procedures. Transcutaneous laryngeal ultrasonography (TLUSG) has been proposed as a promising noninvasive technique and alternative to flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy. Objective To determine whether TLUSG can be an alternative to flexible laryngoscopy in evaluating vocal fold function. Design, Setting, and Participants A prospective study was performed from March 1, 2013, to July 31, 2014. Patients who were scheduled to undergo thyroid or parathyroid surgery by a single surgeon at a North American, university-based tertiary care center and who agreed to undergo preoperative and postoperative TLUSG and flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy were enrolled. Patients were divided into 2 groups: nonoverweight (body mass index [calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared] Interventions Preoperative and postoperative TLUSG and flexible fiber optic laryngoscopic assessments of vocal fold function. Main Outcomes and Measures The findings of TLUSG and flexible fiber optic laryngoscopy were compared for all patients and each body mass index group to assess the accuracy of TLUSG in assessing vocal fold function. Results A total of 250 patients (500 vocal folds) underwent evaluation, of whom 208 (83.2%) were women and with a mean (SD) age of 52.7 (14.3) years. On flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy findings, 13 patients had preoperative vocal fold paralysis (VFP), and 14 postoperative new incidents of VFP were identified. Only 7 (53.9%) of the preoperative cases of VFP and 15 (55.6%) of the postoperative cases of VFP were identified by TLUSG. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of preoperative TLUSG were 53.8%, 50.5%, and 50.6%, respectively; for postoperative TLUSG, 55.6%, 38.7%, and 39.6%, respectively. In the nonoverweight group, the preoperative TLUSG sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 100%, 70.0%, and 70.5%, respectively; in the overweight-obese group, 45.4%, 43.4%, and 43.5%, respectively (odds ratio, 3.16; 95% CI, 2.06-4.84;P Conclusions and Relevance When evaluation of vocal fold function is indicated in patients undergoing thyroid and parathyroid surgery, TLUSG should not be considered as an alternative to the current practice of flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy. Adequate ultrasonographic visualization of the vocal folds and arytenoids is challenging, especially in overweight and obese patients and in the postoperative setting.
Ipsilateral varus knee alignment correlates with increased femoral stem anteversion in primary total hip arthroplasty.

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the ipsilateral knee alignment secondary to knee osteoarthritis affect positioning of the femoral component anteversion during total hip art...
Differences in cellular pathogenicity of two immunologically related poliomyelitis viruses as revealed in tissue culture.

SummaryThe Y-SK strain of poliomyelitis virus may be titrated in roller tube cultures by observation of the degeneration of monkey testicular fibroblasts within 4 days following the addition of virus to the tissue culture. The extent of fibroblastic degeneration is inversely related to the metabolic activity of the tissue, as measured by the amount of acid production. The 2 immunologically related Y-SK and Lansing strains of poliomyelitis virus differ in the degree to which they cause fibroblastic degeneration, and alter the amount of acid production by the tissue. In contrast to the Lansing strain, the Y-SK strain produces more extensive degeneration in fibroblasts of monkey testicles and also in those of human embryonic skin-muscle.
Growth of human cancer cells (HEp 2) in newborn rats.

SummaryTissue cultured cells of human cancer cell line HEp #2 inoculated intravenously into newborn rats at a dose of 1 million or more cells resulted in growth of the heterologous tumor cells in lungs and sometimes in other organs and produced death by respiratory impairment in 4 to 5 weeks.
An Analytical Time–Domain Expression for the Net Ripple Produced by Parallel Interleaved Converters

We apply modular arithmetic and Fourier series to analyze the superposition of $N$ interleaved triangular waveforms with identical amplitudes and duty ratios. Here, interleaving refers to the condition when a collection of periodic waveforms with identical periods is uniformly phase shifted across one period. The main result is a time–domain expression that provides an exact representation of the summed and interleaved triangular waveforms, where the peak amplitude and parameters of the time-periodic component are all specified in closed form. Analysis is general and can be used to study various applications in multiconverter systems. This model is unique not only in that it reveals a simple and intuitive expression for the net ripple, but its derivation via modular arithmetic and Fourier series is distinct from prior approaches. The analytical framework is experimentally validated with a system of three parallel converters under time-varying operating conditions.
Heterosexuality and Military Service

The military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Policy (DADT) is based on a faulty understanding of the relationship between heterosexuality and military service. DADT is built around the idea that because gay sex disrupts unit cohesion, lesbians and gay men cannot be allowed to serve openly in the military. The policy rests on the idea that gay sex is more harmful to military effectiveness than other kinds of sexual conduct. Yet the military regulates a wide range of heterosexual sexual conduct - from blanket rules against sexual conduct altogether, to criminal laws targeting specific sexual acts and relationships, such as sodomy, adultery, fraternization, and a short-lived criminal law against pregnancy - and these regulations are all designed to protect unit cohesion. This Essay argues that DADT’s focus on homosexuality is misplaced. What the military thinks of as a problem with homosexuality is really a problem with sexual conduct in general.
Characterization of sentinel lymph nodes using dual-targeted microbubbles

The purpose of this ongoing study is to evaluate the ability of molecular ultrasound imaging to detect the metastatic involvement in the sentinel lymph node (SLN) of melanoma. The SLN is the first node along the lymphatic channel from the primary tumor and accurate characterization of the SLN helps in the clinical management of melanoma. To date, eight swine (3–7 kg; Sinclair BioResources, Columbia, MO, USA) with naturally occurring melanoma have been studied. Contrast enhanced ultrasound on a S3000 scanner with a 9L4 probe (Siemens Healthineers, Mountain View, CA, USA) was used for imaging. Dual-targeted microbubbles were created with Targestar SA (Targeson, San Diego, CA, USA) labeled with P-selectin and α V β 3 -integrin. IgG labeled Targestar SA was used as control. A two stage imaging approach was used to first identify and then characterize SLNs. First, 0.25 ml of Sonazoid (GE Healthcare, Oslo, Norway) was injected around the tumor and SLNs were identified. Next, dual-targeted and control microbubbles were injected IV with a 30 min interval between injections. Agents were allowed to circulate for 4 min to enable binding. Then 2 sets of image clips were collected before and after a high-power destruction sequence. The mean intensity difference in pre- and post- destruction images was calculated as a relative bubble retention measure. Some non-SLNs were also imaged in this fashion as control. All examined nodes were dissected and histologically examined for the presence of metastatic involvement. A total of 30 lymph nodes (16 SLNs and 14 non-SLNs) were analyzed with 10 SLNs showing metastatic involvement greater than 5%. All non-SLNs were benign. The mean intensity of the dual-targeted bubbles was significantly higher than that of IgG control bubbles in the metastatic SLNs (19.23 ± 23.95 AU vs. 0.20 ± 0.26 AU; p=0.03). Benign nodes did not show significant difference in the mean intensity of the dual-targeted and control bubbles (0.85 ± 1.81 AU vs. 0.03 ± 0.26 AU; p=0.07). Additionally, the mean intensity of dual-targeted bubbles for metastatic nodes was significantly different from that of benign nodes (p=0.002), while control bubbles did not differentiate between metastatic and benign nodes (p=0.09). The results indicate that dual-targeted microbubbles labeled with P-selectin and α V β 3 -integrin can help to characterize SLNs.
A new analysis of the DS-CDMA cellular uplink under spatial constraints

A new analysis is presented for the direct-sequence code-division multiple access (DS-CDMA) cellular uplink. For a given network topology, closed-form expressions are found for the outage probability and rate of each uplink in the presence of path-dependent Nakagami fading and log-normal shadowing. The topology may be arbitrary or modeled by a random spatial distribution for a fixed number of base stations and mobiles placed over a finite area with the separations among them constrained to exceed a minimum distance. The analysis is more detailed and accurate than existing ones and facilitates the resolution of network design issues, including the influence of the minimum base-station separation, the role of the spreading factor, and the impact of various power-control and rate-control policies. It is shown that once power control is established, the rate can be allocated according to a fixed-rate or variable-rate policy with the objective of either meeting an outage constraint or maximizing throughput. An advantage of the variable-rate policy is that it allows an outage constraint to be enforced on every uplink, whereas the fixed-rate policy can only meet an average outage constraint.
Quantum Interpretations for Building Science/Religion Bridges

This paper attempts a systematic comparison of the multiple interpretations of quantum mechanics (QM). The article ends with a summary table that has 13 rows and 10 columns. The columns are metaphysical principles such as determinism and reality. The rows are the main interpretations from 1925 to the present. Each row has entries such as Yes/No/Agnostic. We have contacted most of the living authors and based on their comments we have modified the entry for their interpretation. However, there is reasonable space for disagreement when it comes to determining the correct value of each box (Yes/No/Agnostic). We hope to improve the table in the future. We have also eliminated one of the columns and replaced it with two new columns. We believe that this topic is especially relevant to bridge building in dialogues on science, religion and spirituality because of the unique way that QM brings out metaphysical questions from within science. While any science may lend itself to metaphysical speculation, few sciences beyond QM have such a wide range of metaphysical speculation that all correspond to the same empirical results. This fact may humble scientists and have interesting consequences for how to build bridges between conflicting worldviews. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
Effects of cryopreservation on immune responses. VIII: Enhanced secretion of interferon-γ by frozen human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

The effect of freezing on phytohemagglutinin-induced interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was studied. The possible mechanisms responsible for the observed effects were also analyzed. Frozen PBMCs produced significantly larger quantities of IFN-gamma than fresh cells. Like the frozen cells, the monocyte- and natural killer cell-eliminated populations of fresh PBMCs also secreted significantly larger quantities of IFN-gamma. In contrast, the freezing process had no enhancing effect on IFN-gamma production by monocyte-depleted PBMCs. Irradiated PBMCs also secreted larger quantities of IFN-gamma. The results suggest that functional inactivation of a subset of cryosensitive suppressor monocytes is associated with an increase in IFN-gamma production by the T lymphocytes. The results provide further evidence that monocytes mediate their suppressive effect through the activation of a subset of radiosensitive, immuno-down-regulatory T cells. The ability of frozen cells to produce larger quantities of IFN-gamma should be of clinical importance. For instance, cancer patients receiving frozen PBMCs as stem cell support (after myeloablative radio/chemotherapy) should benefit from the increased IFN-gamma secretion because of its potent immunoregulatory, microbicidal, and antitumor activities.
Coping in Politics with Indeterminate Norms: A Theory of Enlightened Localism, Gregg Benjamin. State University of New York Press, Albany (2003), 210 pp.

If norms are the social rules of organized society, how can social, political and legal equity be possible in the liberal realm of indeterminate norms? Coping in Politics with Indeterminate Norms i...
Taking an Effective Authorial Stance in Academic Writing: Inductive Learning for Second Language Writers using a Stance Corpus.

The study focuses on a pedagogical proposal using a specialized corpus to assist advanced second language (L2) writers to tackle a critical aspect in academic writing, authorial stance-taking. Novice L2 writers are often found to project an unauthoritative persona and voice, which compromises their research potential. Premised on linguistic (Systemic Functional and Corpus Linguistics) and learning theories, the study tested the hypotheses that (1) rendering explicit the complex linguistic stance resources is beneficial to inform ways to argue with a persuasive authorial stance, and (2) corpora tools encourage inductive pattern-finding, which brings about deep learning and better performance. Seven Mandarin-speaking learners of English studying at post-graduate levels were recruited to engage in five-session training and interaction with the tool as they wrote introductions to their research. Multiple methods were employed to analyze (1) overall writing performance (2) stance understanding, (3) the development of stance understanding, (4) cognitive patterns in using the tool and in overall learning and (5) tool use patterns. Results show a positive relationship between stance learning and writing performance. The semantically-oriented corpus also engaged the learners’ to manage the discursive flow of their stance deployment, critical to greater effectiveness in their writing. Their cognitive learning patterns reflected frequent “sense-making”, “exploring” and “reasoning” about the complex new knowledge while inductive pattern-finding is infrequent. The findings suggest training and more support are need to optimize an inductive learning approach. In addition, individual learning styles and preconception are both critical in dictating learning outcome. Learners’ cognitive burden in learning complex linguistic concept using a second language also need to be considered. Finally, to encourage use of the corpus, more examples need to be included so that the users find convincing patterns of stance deployment which is relevant to their argumentative style and disciplinary background. To conclude, to better support academic writers, corpora tools show great potential in hosting examples at the discursive level to complement a lexico-grammatical approach in writing. Such tools, with annotation and textual enhancement, stimulate the writers’ attention to the structural and prosodic aspects of professional writings, an awareness needed for succeeding in a writing task.
Natural convection in a cubical cavity with a coaxial heated cylinder

Abstract High-resolution three-dimensional simulations were conducted to investigate the velocity and temperature fields in a cold cubical cavity due to natural convection induced by a centrally placed hot cylinder. Unsteady, incompressible Navier-Stokes equations were solved by using a spectral-element method for Rayleigh numbers ranging from 103 to 109. The effect of spanwise thermal boundary conditions, aspect ratio (radius of the cylinder to the side of the cavity), and spanwise temperature distribution of the inner cylinder on the velocity and thermal fields were investigated for each Rayleigh number. Results from two-dimensional calculations were compared with three-dimensional simulations. The 3D results indicate a complex flow structure in the vicinity of the spanwise walls. The results also show that the imposed thermal wall boundary condition impacts the flow and temperature fields strongly near the spanwise walls. The variation of the local Nusselt number on the cylinder surface and enclosure walls at various spanwise locations was also investigated. The local Nusselt number on the cylinder surface and enclosure walls at the cavity mid-plane (Z = 0) is close to 2D simulations for 103 ≤ Ra ≤ 108. Simulations also show a variation in the local Nusselt number, on both the cylinder surface and the enclosure walls, in the spanwise direction, for all Rayleigh numbers studied in this work. The results also indicate that if the enclosure walls are insulated in the spanwise direction (as opposed to a constant temperature), the peak Nusselt number on the enclosure surface occurs near the spanwise walls and is about 20% higher than the peak Nusselt number at the cavity mid-plane. The temporal characteristics of 3D flows are also different from 2D results for Ra > 108. These results suggest that 3D simulations would be more appropriate for flows with Ra > 108.
A multiscale model for charge inversion in electric double layers

Charge inversion is a widely observed phenomenon. It is a result of the rich statistical mechanics of the molecular interactions between ions, solvent, and charged surfaces near electric double layers (EDLs). Electrostatic correlations between ions and hydration interactions between ions and water molecules play a dominant role in determining the distribution of ions in EDLs. Due to highly polar nature of water, near a surface, an inhomogeneous and anisotropic arrangement of water molecules gives rise to pronounced variations in the electrostatic and hydration energies of ions. Classical continuum theories fail to accurately describe electrostatic correlations and molecular effects of water in EDLs. In this work, we present an empirical potential based quasi-continuum theory (EQT) to accurately predict the molecular-level properties of aqueous electrolytes. In EQT, we employ rigorous statistical mechanics tools to incorporate interatomic interactions, long-range electrostatics, correlations, and orientation polarization effects at a continuum-level. Explicit consideration of atomic interactions of water molecules is both theoretically and numerically challenging. We develop a systematic coarse-graining approach to coarse-grain interactions of water molecules and electrolyte ions from a high-resolution atomistic scale to the continuum scale. To demonstrate the ability of EQT to incorporate the water orientation polarization, ion hydration, and electrostatic correlations effects, we simulate confined KCl aqueous electrolyte and show that EQT can accurately predict the distribution of ions in a thin EDL and also predict the complex phenomenon of charge inversion.
Symbolic Termination and Confluence Checking for ECA Rules

Event-condition-action (ECA) rules can specify decision processes and are widely used in reactive systems and active database systems. Applying formal verification techniques to guarantee properties of the designed ECA rules is essential to help the error-prone procedure of collecting and translating expert knowledge. However, while the nondeterministic and concurrent semantics of ECA rule execution enhances expressiveness, it also makes analysis and verification more difficult. We propose an approach to analyze the dynamic behavior of a set of ECA rules, by first translating them into an extended Petri net, then studying two fundamental correctness properties: termination and confluence. Our experimental results show that the symbolic algorithms we present greatly improve scalability.
GPU-based parallel indexing for concurrent spatial query processing

In most spatial database applications, the input data is very large. Previous work has shown the importance of using spatial indexing and parallel computing to speed up such tasks. In recent years, GPUs have become a mainstream platform for massively parallel data processing. On the other hand, due to the complex hardware architecture and programming model, developing programs optimized towards high performance on GPUs is non-trivial, and traditional wisdom geared towards CPU implementations is often found to be ineffective. Recent work on GPU-based spatial indexing focused on parallelizing one individual query at a time. In this paper, we argue that current one-query-at-a-time approach has low work efficiency and cannot make good use of GPU resources. To address such challenges, we present a framework named G-PICS for parallel processing of large number of concurrent spatial queries over big datasets on GPUs. G-PICS is motivated by the fact that many spatial query processing applications are busy systems in which a large number of queries arrive per unit of time. G-PICS encapsulates an efficient parallel algorithm for constructing spatial trees on GPUs and supports major spatial query types such as spatial point search, range search, within-distance search, k-nearest neighbors, and spatial joins. While support for dynamic data inputs missing from existing work, G-PICS provides an efficient parallel update procedure on GPUs. With the query processing, tree construction, and update procedure introduced, G-PICS shows great performance boosts over best-known parallel GPU and parallel CPU-based spatial processing systems.
Are powerful CEOs beneficial to post-IPO survival in high technology industries?: An empirical investigation

Abstract Does a powerful CEO affect firm survival after an initial public offering (IPO) in a high technology industry? Survival after an IPO is a critical business issue; executive power is a dimension missing from much of the research on managerial factors that affect post-IPO survival. We evaluate our research question by formulating hypotheses that link four aspects of CEO power (prestige, expert, structural, ownership) to five-year post-IPO survival in computer-related industries. Using logistic regression, we find that CEO prestige education, industry tenure, and equity ownership are positively related to post-IPO survival, whereas structural power (specifically dual CEO/Chair title) reduces five-year, post-IPO survival.
Spatial Separation in Family Life: A Mathematician’s Choice

The media have recently been reporting some strange stories. Are we witnessing the next step in the Women’s Movement? Married couples are living apart in order to practice their careers. The papers seem to assure us that these couples intend to do this for at most a year or two—and not at all if children are involved. Interviews with husband and wife reveal that both believe they must live apart if they are to succeed professionally; the job market is tight. I sometimes wonder whether these couples realize what might be in store for them.
A wild arc with a simply connected complement

It is easy to see that the concept of knottedness does not apply at all to a broken line in R 3; all broken lines are imbedded in R 3 in exactly the same way. (Thus the effectiveness of shoestrings depends on friction rather than knot-theory.) This is the idea conveyed by the following tedious theorem.
Synergy for Sustainability in the Upcoming Telecommunications Revolution: The Case of a Developing Economy

This chapter examines the merger of two cellular companies (MOBILINK and WARID) for sustainability in the telecommunication sector of Pakistan. During 2011-2013, WARID faced the news of the possible sales of the company due to falling revenues,constant poor network quality, and lower network coverage in rural areas. In 2014, all telecom players participated in the auction for 3G/4G licenses, but WARID did not participate due to its technology neutral license (TNL). Important decisions were taken in 2014 like launching of 4G/LTE services in major cities, US$500 million investment, increase of tower sites, opening of new regional sales offices. These decisions along with presence of TNL made WARID an attractive target for merger with MOBILINK. In 2016, the formal merger was finalized for benefits like synergies in CAPEX/OPEX, fastest 4G network, network reach to rural areas, rollout of new services like the internet of things (IoT) and mobile banking. The merger proved successful. During the first quarter of 2017, the company generated PKR 38.7 billion in revenues, up from the same period a year before.
From PACS to PhySH

Physics keeps changing and so do classification and subject indexing. Arthur Smith recalls the final updates to the Physics and Astronomy Classification Scheme (PACS) and the development of the Physics Subject Headings (PhySH), and ponders future directions.
Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science Principles: Searching for Equity in a Two-Tiered Solution to Underrepresentation

The purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between students’ participation in the two high school AP computer science exam options and their selected fields of study once they enter post-secondary education. Two studies using national public-use datasets of participation and performance were conducted. Study 1 compared score distributions for the traditional Computer Science A exam to those of the newer Computer Science Principles exam during its first two years of implementation. In Study 1, Chi-square analyses revealed large differences in performance between the two exams, with the Computer Science Principles scores clustering more around marginal pass rates. Descriptive data indicate that African American, Latino, and female students participated in larger proportions on the new exam, whereas traditionally overrepresented groups are continuing to opt more for the traditional Computer Science A course. In Study 2, logistic regression analyses were conducted on the 2016 second follow-up data collection of the High School Longitudinal Study 2009 (HSLS:09). Those analyses revealed that 11th Grade enrollment in computer science courses that concentrate on computer programming significantly predicted selection of a STEM major as the first declared major after high school. Although students who enrolled in Computer Science A were five times as likely to declare a STEM major, a comparison of the curricula and assessments for the two courses suggests that the Computer Science Principles exam places far less emphasis on programming. The potential implications of the differential foci and emphases of the two courses are discussed.
Differential lethal and sublethal effects in embryonic zebrafish exposed to different sizes of silver nanoparticles.

Abstract Various parameters can influence the toxic response to silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs), including the size and surface properties, as well as the exposure environment and the biological site of action. Herein, we assess the intestinal toxicity of three different sizes (10, 40, and 100 nm) of Ag NPs in embryonic zebrafish, and describe the relationship between the properties and behavior of Ag NPs in the exposure medium, and induction of lethal and sublethal effects. We find that the composition of the medium and the size contribute to differential NPs agglomeration, release of Ag ions, and subsequent effects during exposure. The exposure medium causes dramatic reduction in silver dissolution due to the presence of salts and divalent cations, which limits the lethal potential of silver ions. Lethality is observed primarily for embryos exposed to medium sized Ag NPs (40 nm), but not to the supernatant originated from particles, which suggests that the exposure to particulate silver is the main cause of mortality. On the other hand, the exposure to 10 nm and 100 nm NPs, as well as Ag ions, only causes sublethal developmental defects in skeletal muscles and intestine, and induces a nitric oxide imbalance.
Is Family Caregiving Associated with Inflammation or Compromised Immunity? A Meta-Analysis

Background and objectives Family caregiving stress has been widely reported to have negative effects on circulating biomarkers of immune system function and inflammation. Our goals were to systematically review this literature and conduct a meta-analysis on the extracted effects. Research design and methods A systematic search of published studies comparing caregivers and noncaregivers on biomarkers measured from blood samples was conducted in the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases. This search identified 2,582 articles and abstracts. After removing duplicative papers and studies not meeting inclusion criteria, 30 articles were identified that reported analyses on 86 relevant biomarkers from 1,848 caregivers and 3,640 noncaregivers. Results Random-effects models revealed an overall effect size across all biomarkers of 0.164 SD units (d). A slightly larger overall effect (d = 0.188) was found for dementia caregivers only. Immune system comparisons yielded somewhat larger differences than inflammation comparisons. Most studies used small convenience samples, and effect sizes were larger for studies with moderate or high bias ratings than for studies with low bias ratings. No significant associations were found in studies that used population-based samples. Discussion and implications Caregivers had small but significantly reduced immune system functioning and greater inflammation than noncaregivers, but associations were generally weak and of questionable clinical significance. The absence of clear associations from low bias studies and population-based studies underscores concerns with possible selection biases in many of the convenience samples. Population-based studies that assess biomarkers before and after the onset of caregiving might add much clarity to this literature.
Diverso: make learning relevant for all students

Studies show that the academic performance and learning engagement of students can be improved when teachers recognize how they may serve their culturally and linguistically diverse classrooms. In this paper, we describe a study conducted with middle and high school teachers in the United States and Brazil to develop Diverso, a tool that supports teachers in shaping their instruction around the cultural backgrounds of their students. When using Diverso, a teacher's real needs provide the vehicle upon which culturally relevant theory and strategies are delivered at the moment they are most relevant. Diverso's friendly, chat-driven interface allows teachers to describe their classroom challenges and receive powerful theory and practices in return. While using the tool, teachers build a critical understanding of how culture shapes learning and teaching. Our preliminary results show Diverso's ability to introduce new mindsets and teaching strategies to teachers in a way that is efficient and engaging. We finish this article by describing our reflections on this work and our next steps.