cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
pH-driven assembly of various supported lipid platforms: a comparative study on silicon oxide and titanium oxide.

Supported lipid platforms are versatile cell membrane mimics whose structural properties can be tailored to suit the application of interest. By identifying parameters that control the self-assembly of these platforms, there is potential to develop advanced biomimetic systems that overcome the surface specificity of lipid vesicle interactions under physiological conditions. In this work, we investigated the adsorption kinetics of vesicles onto silicon and titanium oxides as a function of pH. On each substrate, a planar bilayer and a layer of intact vesicles could be self-assembled in a pH-dependent manner, demonstrating the role of surface charge density in the self-assembly process. Under acidic pH conditions where both zwitterionic lipid vesicles and the oxide films possess near-neutral electric surface charges, vesicle rupture could occur, demonstrating that the process is driven by nonelectrostatic interactions. However, we observed that the initial rupturing process is insufficient for propagating bi...
Managing Diversity: How Organizational Efforts to Support Diversity Enhance Affective Commitment and Reduce Turnover Intent for Employees Who Experience Discrimination at Work

Using the Interactional Model of Cultural Diversity and social exchange theory, we examined how the negative effects of perceived racial discrimination on affective commitment can be attenuated by perceived organizational efforts to support diversity. Across three studies, we found that perceptions of workplace racial discrimination are negatively related to affective commitment. However, this negative relationship became weaker as employees perceived more organizational efforts to support diversity. Studies 1 and 2 demonstrated these effects in two employee samples with different demographic characteristics. Study 2 also extended these results by showing that these dynamics ultimately influence turnover intent. Study 3 replicated the findings of Studies 1 and 2 using an experimental design. Results suggest that organizational efforts to support diversity can restore affective commitment for employees who experience racial discrimination at work which, in turn, reduces turnover intent.
Ecohydrology for Sustainability of IWRM: A Tropical/Subtropical Perspective

Water resources in the tropics and subtropics are under severe pressure from burgeoning populations, ad hoc development, and the degrading environment. Uncertainty in precipitation due to climate change adds to the pressure to equitably provide adequate and safe water to all of humanity. Hence, utilizing the beneficial roles played by forests and wetlands upon water availability and quality is the only way to enable the equitable provision of water to all sections of society as well as for buffering water resources against climate change. Understanding the links between different ecosystems in a catchment and local/regional hydrology enables restoration and maintenance of the ecosystems along with the services they provide. This chapter describes the ecohydrological approach to water resources management along with some examples of the application to a range of areas, from river basin management to wastewater treatment and reuse.
Resistance of Culex pipiens pallens to common used insecticides and its control strategy

Objective To investigate the resistance of Culex pipiens palllens larvae to 8 kinds of common used insecticide in Xuzhou,and guide the control of Culex pipiens palllens larvae by choosing appropriate chemical insecticide.Methods Selecting 8 insecticides to test the larvae resistance of Culex pipiens palllens according to the method provided by WHO,and assaying the medium lethal concentration(LC50) of Culex pipiens palllens larvae. Results Compared with the laboratory susceptible strain,the resistance of Culex pipiens palllens larvae to beta-cypermethrin,permethrin,bioallethrin,propoxur and BPMC was in sensitive level.Its resistance to trichlorine and temephos was in lower level.Culex pipiens palllens larvae to DDVP had the highest resistance.Conclusion In mosquito control,it is necessary to take prevention measures,combining the actual conditions and rational selection of reasonable insecticide.
Understanding Women's Awareness and Access to Preconception Health Care in a Rural Population: A Cross Sectional Study.

Despite evidence of the benefits of preconception health care (PCHC), little is known about awareness and access to PCHC for rural, reproductive-aged women. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of PCHC conversations between rural reproductive-age women and health care providers, PCHC interventions received in the past year, and ascertain predictors of PCHC conversations and interventions. Women (n = 868; 18–45 years) completed a questionnaire including reproductive history, health care services utilization, and interest in PCHC. The prevalence of health care providers’ PCHC conversations was 53.9 %, and the mean number of interventions reported was 2.6 ± 2.7 (±SD). Significant predictors of PCHC conversation based on adjusted odds ratios from logistic regression were race (Native American 76 % greater than White), health care provider type (non-physician 63 % greater than physician), visits to a health care provider (3+ times 32 % greater than 1–2 times), and pregnancy planning (considering in next 1–5 years 51 % greater than no plans). Significant predictors of PCHC interventions received in the past 12 months based on adjusted risk ratios from negative binomial regression were race (Native American 22 % greater than White), PCHC conversation with a health care provider (yes 52 % lower than no), reporting PCHC as beneficial (yes 32 % greater than don’t know), and visits to a health care provider in the past year (3+ times 90 % greater than 1–2 times). Increasing conversations about PCHC between health care providers and their reproductive-aged patients can improve awareness and increase their likelihood of receiving all of the recommended interventions.
Cold sintering process of Li1.5Al0.5Ge1.5(PO4)3 solid electrolyte

The recently developed technique of cold sintering process (CSP) enables densification of ceramics at low temperatures, i.e., <300°C. CSP employs a transient aqueous solvent to enable liquid phase-assisted densification through mediating the dissolution-precipitation process under a uniaxial applied pressure. Using CSP in this study, 80% dense Li1.5Al0.5Ge1.5(PO4)3 (LAGP) electrolytes were obtained at 120°C in 20 minutes. After a 5 minute belt furnace treatment at 650°C, 50°C above the crystallization onset, Li-ion conductivity was 5.4 × 10−5 S/cm at 25°C. Another route to high ionic conductivities ~10−4 S/cm at 25°C is through a composite LAGP - (PVDF-HFP) co-sintered system that was soaked in a liquid electrolyte. After soaking 95, 90, 80, 70, and 60 vol% LAGP in 1 M LiPF6 EC-DMC (50:50 vol%) at 25°C, Li-ion conductivities were 1.0 × 10−4 S/cm at 25°C with 5 to 10 wt% liquid electrolyte. This paper focuses on the microstructural development and impedance contributions within solid electrolytes processed by (i) Crystallization of bulk glasses, (ii) CSP of ceramics, and (iii) CSP of ceramic-polymer composites. CSP may offer a new route to enable multilayer battery technology by avoiding the detrimental effects of high temperature heat treatments.
Targeting H19, an Imprinted Long Non-Coding RNA, in Hepatic Functions and Liver Diseases

H19 is a long non-coding RNA regulated by genomic imprinting through methylation at the locus between H19 and IGF2. H19 is important in normal liver development, controlling proliferation and impacting genes involved in an important network controlling fetal development. H19 also plays a major role in disease progression, particularly in hepatocellular carcinoma. H19 participates in the epigenetic regulation of many processes impacting diseases, such as activating the miR-200 pathway by histone acetylation to inhibit the epithelial-mesenchymal transition to suppress tumor metastasis. Furthermore, H19’s normal regulation is disturbed in diseases, such as hepatocellular carcinoma. In this disease, aberrant epigenetic maintenance results in biallelic expression of IGF2, leading to uncontrolled cellular proliferation. This review aims to further research utilizing H19 for drug discovery and the treatment of liver diseases by focusing on both the epigenetic regulation of H19 and how H19 regulates normal liver functions and diseases, particularly by epigenetic mechanisms.
Photoelectron spectroscopy of the thiazate (NSO–) and thionitrite (SNO–) isomer anions

Anion photoelectron spectra of the thiazate (NSO−) and thionitrite (SNO−) isomers are reported. The NSO− photoelectron spectrum showed several well-resolved vibronic transitions from the anion to the NSO radical neutral. The electron affinity of NSO was determined to be 3.113(1) eV. The fundamental vibrational frequencies of NSO were measured and unambiguously assigned to be 1202(6) cm−1 (ν1, asymmetric stretch), 1010(10) cm−1 (ν2, symmetric stretch), and 300(7) cm−1 (ν3, bend). From the presence of vibrational hot band transitions, the fundamental vibrational frequencies of the NSO− anion were also measured: 1280(30) cm−1 (ν1, asymmetric stretch), 990(20) cm−1 (ν2, symmetric stretch), and 480(10) cm−1 (ν3, bend). Combined with the previously measured Δ a c i d H 298 K o (HNSO), D0(H–NSO) was found to be 102(5) kcal/mol. Unlike the results from NSO−, the SNO− photoelectron spectrum was broad with little structure, indicative of a large geometry change between the anion and neutral radical. In addition t...
Maw weber’s theory of civilizations today: the rule of law instead of capitalism!

Max Weber contributed to all the social sciences economic history politics sociology law and religion Of special relevance to globalization studies is his theory about the basic difference between the WEST and the EAST the so called Weber s thesis about modern capitalism based upon his profound inquiries into the world religions like the religions of India and China and his studies of the economic history of Europe and the Middle East His The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism is the most discussed booklet in the social sciences endorsed rejected and falsified as well as confirmed I will show that the focus of his comparative studies viz modern capitalism is flawed as well as that his major idea in politics the type of modern legal rational authority is more suited for his EAST WEST civilization approach but it needs reformulation
Drosophila: An Emergent Model for Delineating Interactions between the Circadian Clock and Drugs of Abuse

Endogenous circadian oscillators orchestrate rhythms at the cellular, physiological, and behavioral levels across species to coordinate activity, for example, sleep/wake cycles, metabolism, and learning and memory, with predictable environmental cycles. The 21st century has seen a dramatic rise in the incidence of circadian and sleep disorders with globalization, technological advances, and the use of personal electronics. The circadian clock modulates alcohol- and drug-induced behaviors with circadian misalignment contributing to increased substance use and abuse. Invertebrate models, such as Drosophila melanogaster, have proven invaluable for the identification of genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying highly conserved processes including the circadian clock, drug tolerance, and reward systems. In this review, we highlight the contributions of Drosophila as a model system for understanding the bidirectional interactions between the circadian system and the drugs of abuse, alcohol and cocaine, and illustrate the highly conserved nature of these interactions between Drosophila and mammalian systems. Research in Drosophila provides mechanistic insights into the corresponding behaviors in higher organisms and can be used as a guide for targeted inquiries in mammals.
Why We Need More Replication Studies To Keep Empirical Knowledge in Check: How Reliable Is Truth In Advertising Research?

Advertising research is critical to understanding how consumers will respond to various message and media strategies. Research, in fact, generally is considered the first step of any advertising campaign-planning process. The results have considerable implications for campaign strategy, and, as such
Electronic Structure and Magnetic Circular Dichroism Studies of Proton Transfer by Histidine

Proton transport in many known enzymatic reactions is accompanied by the participation of a histidyl residue in the active site. A useful text on enzymes (Gray, 1971) lists such cases for acetylcholinesterase, alpha-amylase, aspartate aminotransferase, carbonic anhydrase, carboxypeptidase, chymotripsin, creatinine kinase, fructose-diphosphate aldolase, glucose-phosphate isomerase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate NAD oxidoreductase, ketosteroid delta-4 delta-5 isomerase, papain, phosphoglucomutase, ribonuclease, subtilopeptidase-A and trypsin Because proton transfer is critical in such enzymatic mechanisms and because protons are particles of very low mass, one should ask whether magnetic fields can influence and/or interfere with such processes. To the extent that magnetic effects on biosystems have been documented (Allen, Cleary and Hawkridge, 1989), the next question of where to look for a molecular mechanism brings the histidine proton transfer mechanism under scrutiny. The method of choice in this paper is to use magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy which measures the chirality induced in the electronic structure of a molecule by immersion in a strong, static magnetic field.
Delay-tolerant networks (DTNs) for emergency communications

This chapter discusses how delay-tolerant networks can be used to improve situational awareness during the response to a large-scale disaster. The state of the art, in both industry and academia, is reviewed. A mobility model suitable for modeling mobility during disaster response is presented. Then, two energy-efficient routing protocols as well as two schemes to reduce energy consumption at the hardware level are discussed.
The Impact of Media Agenda Setting on Local Governments: Examining the Relationship between Media Coverage and Policy Outcomes

Agenda-setting studies are abundant in mass media literature. Since the early 1970s the methodology conceived by Don Shaw and Max McCombs has been used to study everything from environmental issues to race relations. Their theories correlated media coverage and public opinion, mostly at the national level. Fewer studies have examined whether agenda-setting concepts can be used to correlate media coverage with policy outcomes. Still fewer studies have been used at the level of local government. This study shows a limited relationship in cities and towns between policy changes and media coverage by looking at changes in budgeted allocations and a content analysis of local newspapers.
Modern Management of Central Nervous System Metastases in the Era of Targeted Therapy and Immune Oncology

Metastases to the central nervous system (CNS) are associated with considerable morbidity and mortality in patients with cancer. Historically, very few systemic therapies have shown efficacy in this patient population. Emerging data are now demonstrating that whole-brain radiation therapy, previously considered the mainstay of treatment of brain metastases, is associated with high rates of neurotoxicity. In this new era of targeted therapy and immunotherapy, clinical outcomes are improving, and patients are living longer. Despite these improvements, there is an urgent need to design central nervous system-penetrant compounds that target the genetic mutations enriched in brain metastases and to bring these to clinical trials.
Patients undergoing intragastric balloon achieve approximately 50% of their target weight loss in the first month postoperatively: an MBSAQIP analysis.

Abstract Background Intragastric balloon (IGB) placement can provide a mean percent total weight loss (%TWL) of 10.2% at 6-month follow-up. Objectives We aimed to evaluate 30-day outcomes and safety of patients undergoing IGB placement. Setting Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program. Methods The 2016 to 2017 Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program was queried for adult patients who underwent primary IGB placement. Demographic characteristics and preoperative risk factors were collected. Postoperative outcomes included %TWL, percent excess weight loss, and complications rates and causes. Subset analysis was done for outcomes comparison between surgeons or gastroenterologists performing the procedure. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 25.0. Results A total of 1221 patients were included. The majority was female (81.9%), Caucasian (81.2%), with a mean age of 48 ± 11.3 years and a mean preoperative body mass index of 34.9 ± 11.2 kg/m2. Of patients, 98.8% were discharged within 24 hours of the procedure. Two patients were admitted to the intensive care unit, and 7.2% received postoperative treatment for dehydration. Reoperation and readmission rates were 1.1% and 7.2%, respectively, mainly due to nausea, vomiting, and poor nutritional status (n = 22). The intervention rate was 6.2%. Patients in this cohort achieved a mean %TWL of 6.2% (standard deviation, 5.52%) and mean TWL of 6.8 kg within 30 days postoperatively (n = 147; 24–30 d). Conclusions Our data show patients met approximately 50% of their target weight loss 30 days after IGB placement. Nausea, vomiting, and poor nutrition status were the most common complications within 30 days of the procedure. Long-term follow-up is necessary to determine if these patients are able to sustain their weight loss and for how long.
Do psychological factors or radiographic severity play a role in the age of onset in symptomatic developmental dysplasia of hip and femoroacetabular impingement syndrome

Age of onset in symptomatic developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) and femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) varies. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether psychological factors, radiographic, and clinical variables were related to age of onset of hip pain in DDH and FAIS. We collected demographic, clinical, and radiographic data on 56 DDH and 84 FAIS patients. Each was diagnosed based on radiographic findings and clinical history. Age of onset was operationalized by subtracting patient reported duration of symptoms from patient age at presentation. Pain catastrophizing (PCS) and depression were assessed with the pain catastrophizing scale and hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), respectively. Multiple linear regression modeling, with Lasso variable selection, was implemented. Pain catastrophizing, anxiety, and depression were not significantly related to age of DDH onset (p-values > 0.27) or age of FAIS onset (p-values > 0.29). LASSO-penalized linear regression revealed alpha Dunn angle, Tonnis grade, prior hip surgery, WOMAC pain score, and iHOT total score were associated with age of onset in FAIS (Adjusted R2 = 0.3099). Lateral center edge angle (LCEA), alpha frog angle, Tonnis grade, SF12 physical functioning, and body mass index (BMI) were associated with age of DDH onset (Adjusted R2 = 0.3578). Psychological factors, as measured by PCS and HADS, were not associated with age of onset in DDH or FAIS. Functional impairment as measured by WOMAC pain and impaired active lifestyle as measured by iHOT were found to affect age of FAIS onset. For DDH, impaired physical functioning and increasing BMI were found to be associated with age of onset. Severity of the disease, as measured radiographically by LCEA and alpha Dunn angle, was also found to be associated with earlier age of onset in DDH and FAIS, respectively. A patient’s radiographic severity may have more of a relationship to the onset of pain than physiologic factors.
Keep Your Stats in the Cloud! Evaluating the Use of Google Sheets to Teach Quantitative Methods

Teaching quantitative methods at the undergraduate level is a difficult yet rewarding endeavor due to the challenges instructors face in presenting the material. One way to bolster student learning...
Listeria monocytogenes cancer vaccines: bridging innate and adaptive immunity.

Immunotherapy has emerged as a promising cancer treatment; however, success in only select clinical indications underscores the need for novel approaches. Recently Listeria monocytogenes–based vaccines have been developed to drive tumor-specific T cell responses. Here, we discuss recent preclinical studies using L. monocytogenes vaccines, innate immune pathways that influence T cell priming, and new vaccine strategies in clinical trials. Recent studies indicate that in addition to inducing antigen-specific T cell responses, L. monocytogenes vaccines remodel the TME. In addition, several innate immune pathways influence adaptive immune responses to L. monocytogenes and modulating these pathways holds promise to enhance antitumor T cell responses. The interplay between innate and adaptive immune responses to L. monocytogenes is poorly understood. Understanding these interactions will facilitate the design of better anti-cancer vaccines and improved use of combination therapies.
Quality of Classroom Interactions and the Demographic Divide: Evidence From the Measures of Effective Teaching Study:

Using data from six urban school districts, we examine the relationship between the quality of interactions in the classroom (measured by the Classroom Assessment Scoring System [CLASS] framework) ...
Atom probe tomography using extreme-ultraviolet light

We present a different approach to laser-assisted atom probe tomography, where instead of using a near-UV laser for inducing a thermal transient, we use an extreme-ultraviolet coherent light source to trigger field ion emission at the tip's apex. The use of extreme-ultraviolet photons in atom probe tomography opens the potential for an athermalfield ionization pathway.
Cytoplasmic mRNA decay represses RNA polymerase II transcription during early apoptosis

SUMMARY RNA abundance is generally sensitive to perturbations in decay and synthesis rates, but crosstalk between RNA polymerase II transcription and cytoplasmic mRNA degradation often leads to compensatory changes in gene expression. Here, we reveal that widespread mRNA decay during early apoptosis represses RNAPII transcription, indicative of positive (rather than compensatory) feedback. This repression requires active degradation of cytoplasmic mRNA, which leads to impaired recruitment of components of the transcription preinitiation complex to promoter DNA. Importin α/β-mediated nuclear import is critical for this feedback signaling, suggesting that proteins translocating between the cytoplasm and nucleus connect mRNA decay to transcription. We also show that an analogous pathway activated by viral nucleases similarly depends on nuclear protein import. Collectively, these data demonstrate that accelerated mRNA decay leads to the repression of mRNA transcription, thereby amplifying the shutdown of gene expression. This highlights a conserved gene regulatory mechanism by which cells respond to threats. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
The Future of Art Curriculum: Imagining and Longing Beyond “the Now”

Nearly a half century ago, education philosopher Elliot Eisner charged that art educators were generally too fixated on art of the past (Eisner, 1972). Since then, many art education practitioners ...
An approach to low-temperature flame spray pyrolysis for the synthesis of temperature-sensitive materials: Application to Li1.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13O2

Abstract Flame spray pyrolysis (FSP) is a robust, scalable method of synthesizing powders. Nonetheless, many materials cannot be synthesized by FSP because their properties degrade when exposed to the high temperatures typical of flame processes. Herein, a low-temperature flame spray pyrolysis (LT-FSP) process is proposed, and the method is applied to the synthesis of a lithium, manganese rich-NMC material (LMR-NMC): Li1.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13O2. LMR-NMC materials have been studied intensively in the past decades and are some of the more attractive cathode materials under study for electric vehicles. However, their performance degrades if synthesized under the high temperatures typical of FSP. The proposed LT-FSP process incorporates ethanol, added to an aqueous precursor, as the fuel. Ethanol's unique properties -including a high vapor pressure enhanced by its high activity coefficient in water- allow for stable combustion and low post-flame temperature. Using a swirl-stabilized burner, a stable flame for the mixture was achieved, and the subsequent reactor temperature was found to be significantly lower than what can be attained via traditional FSP. The effects of reactor temperature, controlled via altering ethanol concentration, on the physical properties and electrochemical performance of the synthesized materials were characterized. Li1.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13O2 synthesized with 25 wt% ethanol showed the best performance, delivering a discharge capacity of 203 mAhg−1 after 100 cycles under C/3, and an initial capacity of 201 and 169 mAhg−1 at C/2 and C/1, respectively. These results are comparable to those obtained for Li1.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13O2 produced via co-precipitation. The process was modelled via RANS CFD to demonstrate that the high volatility of ethanol in water yields stable combustion at the base of the flame and a uniform low-temperature zone afterwards, leading to ideal conditions for synthesis of temperature sensitive materials in a scalable process. LT-FSP was also found to lead to improved material uniformity when compared to another spray pyrolysis method.
Maternal serum fructosamine levels and stillbirth: a case-control study of the Stillbirth Collaborative Research Network.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association between maternal fructosamine levels at the time of delivery and stillbirth. DESIGN Secondary analysis of a case-control study. SETTING Multicentre study of five geographic catchment areas in the USA. POPULATION All singleton stillbirths with known diabetes status and fructosamine measurement, and representative live birth controls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Fructosamine levels in stillbirths and live births among groups were adjusted for potential confounding factors, including diabetes. Optimal thresholds of fructosamine to discriminate stillbirth and live birth. RESULTS A total of 529 women with a stillbirth and 1499 women with a live birth were included in the analysis. Mean fructosamine levels were significantly higher in women with a stillbirth than in women with a live birth after adjustment (177 ± 3.05 versus 165 ± 2.89 μmol/L, P < 0.001). The difference in fructosamine levels between stillbirths and live births was greater among women with diabetes (194 ± 8.54 versus 162 ± 3.21 μmol/L), compared with women without diabetes (171 ± 2.50 versus 162 ± 2.56 μmol/L). The area under the curve (AUC) for fructosamine level and stillbirth was 0.634 (0.605-0.663) overall, 0.713 (0.624-0.802) with diabetes and 0.625 (0.595-0.656) with no diabetes. CONCLUSIONS Maternal fructosamine levels at the time of delivery were higher in women with stillbirth compared with women with live birth. Differences were substantial in women with diabetes, suggesting a potential benefit of glycaemic control in women with diabetes during pregnancy. The small differences noted in women without diabetes are not likely to justify routine screening in all cases of stillbirth. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT Maternal serum fructosamine levels are higher in women with stillbirth than in women with live birth, especially in women with diabetes.
Between-country inequalities in health lifestyles

How does engagement in multiple health behaviors consolidate into health promoting health lifestyles, and how does economic development provide a broadly shared living condition to enable participa...
Hidden equivalence in the operant demand framework: A review and evaluation of multiple methods for evaluating nonconsumption.

Operant translations of behavioral economic concepts and principles have enhanced the ability of researchers to characterize the effects of reinforcers on behavior. Operant behavioral economic models of choice (i.e., Operant Demand) have been particularly useful in evaluating how the consumption of reinforcers is affected by various ecological factors (e.g., price, limited resources). Prevailing perspectives in the Operant Demand Framework are derived from the framework presented in Hursh and Silberberg (2008). Few dispute the utility of this framework and model, though debate continues regarding how to address the challenges associated with logarithmic scaling. At present, there are competing views regarding the handling of nonconsumption (i.e., 0 consumption values) and under which situations that alternative restatements of this framework are recommended. The purpose of this report was to review the shared mathematical bases for the Hursh and Silberberg and Koffarnus et al. (2015) models and how each can accommodate nonconsumption values. Simulations derived from those featured in Koffarnus et al. were used to conduct tests of equivalence between modeling strategies while controlling for interpretations of residual error as well as the absolute lower limit. Simulations and proofs were provided to illustrate how neither the Hursh and Silberberg nor Koffarnus et al. models can characterize demand at 0 and how both ultimately arrive at the same upper and lower limits. These findings are discussed, and recommendations are provided to build consensus related to zero consumption values in the Operant Demand Framework.
Introduction to image processing.

Publisher Summary This chapter presents an introduction to image processing. Recent technological advances in computing and interfaces between video components and computers have allowed scientists to use processing routines to enhance or quantify particular characteristics of images. The use of image processing is not limited to scientists, and the introduction of digital cameras, video cards, and scanners has made image processing available to nearly every user of personal computers. With a minimum investment, one can readily enhance contrast, detect edges, quantify intensity, and apply a variety of mathematical operations to images. As image processing allows the investigator to convert the microscope/camera system into a quantitative device; the chapter focuses on three basic problems: (1) reducing “noise,” (2) enhancing contrast, and (3) quantifying intensity of an image. These techniques can then be applied to a number of different methodologies such as video-enhanced differential interference microscopy (VEDIC), nanovid microscopy, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, and fluorescence ratio imaging. In all cases, knowledge of the basic principles of microscopy, image formation, and image-processing routines is absolutely required to convert the microscope into a device capable of pushing the limits of resolution and contrast.
Cognitive Supports for Analogies in the Mathematics Classroom

Variations in the effective use of analogies in math instruction across countries may contribute to performance differences in the TIMSS studies.
A System Transfer Function for Visual Evoked Potentials

The electroencephalogram (EEG) and evoked potentials (EP) have long held the promise of being a way of studying the sensory processing of the brain. If we take the view that the EEG is a continuous output signal, some features of which represent the response to input signals consisting of sensory stimuli, we have an input/output system that seems suitable for application of engineering analysis techniques. Using this approach, Clynes et al. (1964) studied the brain wave responses to step, ramp and sine wave light stimuli. The step stimuli allowed them to obtain the transient response of the “system”, and the sine wave stimuli allowed them to obtain the steady state response. These results, as well as the work of other investigators (Donker, 1975; Montagu, 1967; van der Tweel and Ver- duyn-Lunel, 1965), have demonstrated the nonlinear nature of steady state evoked potentials (SSEP). For stimulation by sine wave modulated light (SML) in the frequency range 5–9 Hz, a persistent second harmonic response is seen even at very low modulation depths. Further evidence of nonlinearity is seen in the poor results in attempting to predict the response to high flash rates based on superposition of responses from low flash rates.
Multiple Personality Disorder

Long believed to be a rare and apocryphal psychiatric condition (Klutf, 1987), multiple personality disorder (MPD) is presently understood as a relatively common but often misdiagnosed syndrome. Putnam, Guroff, Silberman, Barban, and Post (1986), in a study of 100 MPD patients, found that the average MPD patient is correctly diagnosed only about seven years after initial mental health assessment for symptoms referable to MPD. During that time frame, he or she can expect to receive an average of 3.6 erroneous diagnoses. These misdiagnoses have as much to do with graduate training programs, Hollywoodian perceptions, and overt skepticism about a disorder (Dell, 1988) that carries with it supposed flamboyant and attention-seeking behaviors (though this type of presentation occurs in only 6% of the cases; Kluft, 1985) as it does with MPD patients’ decided attempts to dissimulate or deny their condition (Kluft 1985, 1987) to their therapists and to themselves. MPD is a condition of secrecy; if the presentation were truly overt, delay in diagnosis would be the exception rather than the rule (Kluft & Fine, 1989).
SCADA Honeynets: The attractiveness of honeypots as critical infrastructure security tools for the detection and analysis of advanced threats

Since the Stuxnet worm was discovered by a Belarusian security company, there has been a growing awareness of and a renewed interest in control system security. There is concern from some security researchers that the attention Stuxnet has received will have a proliferating effect. Will control systems now attract more attention from hackers, organized crime, terrorists, and foreign intelligence services? Will these attacks evolve beyond the typical virus or malware driven attacks commonly seen? Using a honeynet designed for control systems, insight into these questions will be sought by comparing the number and types of attacks received by a simulated control system with the number and types of attacks received by an IT network. Also, the usefulness of using honeynets on control systems to track adversary’s means and methods as well as serve as an early warning system will be explored.
Collegiality as a Factor in Tenure Decisions

The successful governance of the academic business of the university depends on cooperation. While disagreements play a vital role in any decision-making process, university faculty and administrators may seek to use the tenure process to deny tenure to nontenured faculty whose contributions have been divisive and disruptive. To date, no court has found that the use of collegiality in making tenure decisions is inappropriate. However, judicial conflicts arise as to whether collegiality has been invoked in a manner that is discriminatory or violative of free speech. Because collegiality is concerned with conduct rather than such academic matters as publication records or numbers of courses taught, it is likely to be a suspect factor to faculty members who have been denied tenure.
Fluency with Information Technology

Fluency with Information Technology specifies a degree of competency with computers and information in which users possess the skills, concepts, and capabilities needed to apply Information Technology (IT) confidently and effectively and can acquire new knowledge independently. Fluency with Information Technology transcends computer literacy and prepares students for lifelong learning of IT. The concept of Fluency with Information Technology derives from a National Research Council (NRC) study initiated in 1997 and funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The study focused on defining “what everyone should know about Information Technology.” For the purposes of the study, “everyone” meant the population at large, and IT was defined broadly to include computers, networking, software and applications, as well as information resources—virtually anything one would encounter using a network-connected personal computer. Keywords: computer literacy; information technology; computer skills; computer fluency
Direct Mail Credit Card Solicitation of College Students: An Exploratory Study

Abstract This study investigates how credit card companies use direct mail to solicit to college students. One hundred twelve college students agreed to complete a credit card solicitation log sheet of all offers they received in the mail over a six-week period. Information was collected on 550 direct mail offers. Data were collected on the average percentage rates (both introductory and long term) offered to college students, how many credit applications were completed, and the credit usage habits of the respondents.
A verifiable modeling approach to configurable role-based access control

Role-based access control (RBAC) is a popular access control model for enterprise systems due to its economic benefit and scalability. There are many RBAC features available, each providing a different feature. Not all features are needed for an RBAC system. Depending on the requirements, one should be able to configure RBAC by selecting only those features that are needed for the requirements. However, there have not been suitable methods that enable RBAC configuration at the feature level. This paper proposes an approach for systematic RBAC configuration using a combination of feature modeling and UML modeling. The approach describes feature modeling and design principles for specifying and verifying RBAC features and a composition method for building configured RBAC. We demonstrate the approach by building an RBAC configuration for a bank application.
Direct numerical simulation of shear localization and decomposition reactions in shock-loaded HMX crystal

A numerical model is developed to study the shock wave ignition of octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX) crystal. The model accounts for the coupling between crystal thermal/mechanical responses and chemical reactions that are driven by the temperature field. This allows for the direct numerical simulation of decomposition reactions in the hot spots formed by mechanical loading. The model is used to simulate intragranular pore collapse under shock wave loading. In a reference case: (i) shear-enabled micro-jetting is responsible for a modest extent of reaction in the pore collapse region, and (ii) shear banding is found to be an important mode of localization. The shear bands, which are filled with molten HMX, grow out of the pore collapse region and serve as potential ignition sites. The model predictions of shear banding and reactivity are found to be quite sensitive to the respective flow strengths of the solid and liquid phases. In this regard, it is shown that reasonable assumptions of liquid-HMX viscosity can lead to chemical reactions within the shear bands on a nanosecond time scale.
Waterbird Use of Catfish Ponds and Migratory Bird Habitat Initiative Wetlands in Mississippi

Abstract. Aquaculture can provide important surrogate habitats for waterbirds. In response to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the National Resource Conservation Service enacted the Migratory Bird Habitat Initiative through which incentivized landowners provided wetland habitats for migrating waterbirds. Diversity and abundance of waterbirds in six production and four idled aquaculture facilities in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley were estimated during the winters of 2011–2013. Wintering waterbirds exhibited similar densities on production (i.e., ∼22 birds/ha) and idled (i.e., ∼20 birds/ha) sites. A total of 42 species were found using both types of aquaculture wetlands combined, but there was considerable departure in bird guilds occupying the two wetland types. The primary users of production ponds were diving and dabbling ducks and American coots. However, idled ponds, with varying water depths (e.g., mudflats to 20 cm) and diverse emergent vegetation-water interspersion, attracted over 30 species...
Enhancement of Epstein-Barr virus replication in producer cell lines by a combination of low temperature and corticosteroids.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous virus of man which, after infection, persists in a latent state throughout the life of the individual (1). Acute infection may be clinically inapparent, or it may result in infectious mononucleosis, a self-limiting disease (2). In addition, EBV DNA is almost invariably detected in the tumor cells of African patients with Burkitt’s lymphoma and patients throughout the world with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (3, 4). In both cases, epidemiological studies strongly suggest that the malignant disease arises some years after acute infection with EBV (5, 6). However, while EBV can induce tumors in primates (3, A), a causal relationship with human malignancy has not been established. Since DNA virus replication leads to cell death, tumor cells, or the cells of continuous cell lines which contain EBV, are of necessity either nonpermissive or minimally permissive with respect to EBV replication (1,7,8). The capacity of DNA viruses to persist in a latent state is thus inextricably bound up with their potential oncogenicity, and studies of the mechanism of latency are therefore of considerable interest. In the case of EBV, an additional, more pragmatic reason for the study of latency is the lack of a fully permissive in vitro culture system, with resultant difficulty in obtaining sufficient quantities of virus for biochemical and other studies. Factors exist which may influence the transcription of certain cellular as well as
Effects of parent and family characteristics on treatment outcome of anxious children

This study examines relations between family functioning, parenting stress, parental psychopathology, and treatment outcome. Participants included 61 children (ages 7-11 years) with features or diagnoses of separation anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and/or social phobia. Treatment conditions included group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and no-treatment control. Higher family cohesion at baseline was associated with significantly greater decreases in child anxiety at posttreatment for participants who received CBT, while no association was found for the no-treatment control participants. Parenting stress and parental psychopathology were not associated with treatment outcome for either condition. Post hoc analyses examining relations between family cohesion, parenting stress, and parental psychopathology showed that parents from families low in cohesion reported significantly higher levels of parenting stress and psychopathology compared to parents from families high in cohesion. These results will facilitate development and implementation of effective interventions with anxious children.
Distribution of carbon and nitrogen in sagebrush steppe after six years of nitrogen addition and shrub removal

Abstract Widespread loss of sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) in much of the western US represents a major shift in the dominant species type and may trigger changes in ecosystem characteristics such as the distribution of nutrients. We examined total nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) content of soils directly below and away from Wyoming big sagebrush (A. tridentata ssp. tridentata) canopies in undisturbed areas, where shrubs had been removed for six years, and in areas that have received annual additions of nitrogen, to improve our understanding of the effects of shrub canopies and perturbations on nutrient distribution. Soils below shrub canopies had more C and N than soils in open interspaces; resource islands were still present six years after shrubs were removed. Soil carbon content in the top 10 cm was 25% greater on shrub removal plots than on control plots. There was no difference in total N or C on plots that received annual additions of N when compared to control plots.
Nursing Homes as Acute Care Providers A Pilot Study of Incentives to Reduce Hospitalizations

This program was designed to encourage treatment of episodes of acute illness in skilled nursing facilities in order to avoid costly and potentially traumatic admission to hospital. It is part of the Monroe County Long Term Care Program, Inc, system of case management and Medicare and Medicaid waivers, and consists of financial incentives, paid by Medicare, to facilities and to responsible physicians to evaluate and care for acutely ill patients in the SNF's when medically safe and feasible. A retrospective evaluation using a physician assessment committee concluded that among the first 112 patients in the program, 76% were very probably saved hospitalization or at least an emergency room visit. Acute bacterial infection was the most common category of episode, occurring in 46% of cases. Considerable savings to both Medicare and Medicaid were estimated to have resulted.
The effects of grazers and light penetration on the survival of transplants of Vallisneria americana Michs in the tidal Potomac River, Maryland

Abstract Poor light penetration and grazing are among the factors potentially responsible for the lack of submersed aquatic macrophytes in the tidal Potomac River. Between 1980 and 1983, plugs, springs and tubers of Vallisneria americana Michx were transplanted from the oligohaline Potomac Estuary to six sites in the freshwater tidal Potomac River. Transplants made in 1980 and 1981 were generally successful only when protected by full exclosures which prevented grazing. Grazing resulted in the removal of whole plants or clipping off of plant leaves in unprotected plots. Plants protected in the first year were permanently established, despite the occurrence of grazing in subsequent years, at Elodea Cove and Rosier Bluff, where light penetration was high (average 1% light level was 1.6–1.7 m). Plants were not permanent;y established at Goose Island, where light penetration was lower (average 1% light level was 1.4 m) and grazing occurred, or Neabsco Bay where light penetration was very low (average 1% light level was 1.0 m) and grazing may not have occurred. In 1983, Secchi depth transparencies in the upper tidal river were improved significantly compared to 1978–1981. Both protected and unprotected transplants thrived in 1983.
The Model II Unityper

This paper relates some of the considerations that led the designers to develop the all-mechanical Model II Unityper, in order to achieve a smaller, less expensive input transcriber than the larger electronic first model. Operational characteristics are discussed, and the relationship of the unit to the rest of the computing system is given.
Acquiring Assistance from Others The Effect of Indirect Requests and Relational Intimacy on Verbal Compliance

This research examines the effectiveness of indirect requests in attaining assistance from intimate and nonintimate others. Prior research indicates that people are inclined to make requests using indirect forms. However, help-seeking research has neglected to consider request forms, and research on indirect requests has focused mainly on issues of interpretation. The results of this study indicate that the directness of a request increases request force and also interacts with relational intimacy to influence verbal compliance. Directness is more effective at eliciting verbal compliance at higher levels of intimacy. The experimental findings highlight issues concerning the definition of indirectness and also the utility of merging interpretation and compliance in language research.
Electron diffraction structure analysis of rapidly solidified (Fe,Ni)3Al-C alloys

Abstract The quench-rate-metastable structure was examined in the Fe-20Ni-8Al-2C (weight percent) alloy. Duplex structures, either disordered γ FCC with κ-carbide precipitates or cuboidal domains of ordered γ' with the L1 2 structure in a disordered γ matrix, were found in samples 35–100 μm thick. Electron diffraction patterns, from a series of samples with different quench rates, were analyzed with image analysis techniques to trace the development of the ordered γ' phase.