cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
New Developments in the Labor Market: Toward a New Institutional Paradigm

The structure of employer/employee relationships is changing. These original contributions report on new developments taking place in today's labor market and on the role of public policy in shaping that process. They provide an illuminating description of the current state of internal labor market theory and practice, document the evolution of trends in the public and private sectors, and are joined in a concern for disadvantaged and unemployed workers that is all too rare in scholarly work. A central theme is the adaptation of labor market institutions to the important environmental changes of recent years, including the shift to an international marketplace for goods and services, the spread of new workplace technologies, new work force demographics, and changing conceptions of the role that government should be expected to play.Katharine Abraham is Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Maryland. Robert McKersie is Professor of Industrial Relations at the Sloan School of Management at MIT.Contents: Introduction, Katharine G. Abraham. Norms and Cycles: The Dynamics of Nonunion Industrial Relations in the United States, 1897-1987, Sanford M. Jacoby. The Effects of Worker Participation in Management, Profits and Ownership of Assets on Enterprise Performance, Michael A. Conte, Jan Svenjar. Restructuring the Employment Relationship: The Growth of MarketMediated Work Arrangements, Katharine G. Abraham. The Evolving Role of Small Business and Some Implications for Employment and Training Policy, Gary W. Loveman, Michael J. Piore, Werner Sengeneberger. Employment Security and Employment Policy: An Assessment of the Issues, Paul Osterman, Thomas A. Kochan. The Equity and Efficiency of job Security: Contrasting Perspectives on Collective Dismissal Laws in Europe, Susan N. Houseman. ContinuousProcess Technologies and the Gender Gap in Manufacturing Wages, Susan B. Carter, Peter Philips. Reducing Gender and Racial Inequality: The Role of Public Policy, Peter Gottschalk. Government and the Labor Market, Robert M. Solow.
Towards Deceptive Intention: Finding Trajectories and Its Analysis

This study investigated how an individual's deceptive intention may be inferred from non-verbal behavioral representation while simultaneously concealing suspicious movement. Using a paper-and-pencil test, 33 participants were asked to deceive a hypothetical surveillance system. Results showed that deceptive intention can be inferred from trajectories drawn by participants. Patterns of trajectories were clustered. The majority of participants believed that not being suspicious is more important than being deceitful. Features exhibited in trajectories require more in-depth qualitative analyses in future studies. Computer-based experiments are also recommended.
Complex Kohn approach to molecular ionization by high-energy electrons: Application to H 2 O

The complex Kohn variational method, which has been extensively applied to low-energy molecule scattering, is extended to treat molecular ionization by fast electrons under the assumption that the incident and scattered electrons can be described by plane waves. The formulation reduces to the computation of the continuum generalized oscillation strength, which amounts to a generalization of the molecular photoionization problem to which the Kohn method has been successfully applied. To illustrate the approach, we present fully differential cross sections for the case of water, where good experimental data is available for comparison.
On-Line, Simultaneous Identification of Multiple Modes for Flexible Structures Using Adaptive Filtering Techniques

Using adaptive filtering techniques, on-line system identification algorithms have been investigated to identify simultaneously modal parameters of multiple modes for flexible structures. The existing adaptive filter based, on-line modal parameter identification algorithm is designed to identify a single mode at a time. Thus, the algorithm must be supplemented by a band-pass filter to extract from the measurement signal the frequency contents in the vicinity of a desired mode. This filtering approach is not effective for flexible structures with high modal density. The algorithms presented herein are explored mainly to overcome this drawback of the existing algorithm. In this paper, adaptive filters are designed to allow simultaneous identification of multiple modes without using the band-pass filters. The design process and the performance of the adaptive filters are presented for the simultaneous identification of two or more modes. The algorithms have been implemented on a DSP (digital signal processor) system to evaluate the performance of on-line identification. A cantilevered beam was used as a test article along with a shaker and an accelerometer. The algorithm for the identification of two modes runs successfully but a difficulty has been encountered for the simultaneous identification of three or more number of modes due to the complexity of the algorithm. This capability of identifying multiple modes simultaneously will help improve the performance of the on-line modal parameter identification algorithm for flexible structures with high modal density.
The Partisan Movement in Postwar Lithuania

The story of armed resistance to Soviet rule in postwar Lithuania is of interest both to historians and to political scientists. On the one hand, it unveils an important period of modern Lithuanian history and offers a glimpse into the dilemma of East European nationalism, caught between Nazis and Communists in World War II. On the other, it allows an insight into the nature of a movement that seeks to produce political changes by the use of violence. In an age when political practitioners use guerrilla warfare and paramilitary tactics as basic means of struggle for power, justification of a study of partisan movements seems hardly necessary. By showing academic interest, the social scientist merely recognizes their growing practical importance. The Lithuanian partisan resistance to the Soviet regime now can be analyzed with the help of varied source material, including firsthand testimony of both nationalist and Communist origin.
Competing in value-based health care: keys to winning the foot race.

The US health care system is transitioning to a value-based model of health care in which providers will be rewarded for delivering services that achieve excellent clinical outcomes with efficient ...
The 1988 Presidential Nominations: Whatever Happened to Momentum?

‘Big Mo’ has just switched uniforms. —Dandy Don Meredith, football commentator According to a staple item of conventional wisdom about the politics of presidential nominations, it has become essential for a candidate to perform well early in the primary and caucus season, weighing in with an early victory or, what is probably more important, an unexpectedly strong early showing. Toward that end, serious presidential aspirants now gear up their campaigns years in advance of the first primaries and caucuses, in the belief that in order to stand any chance of being nominated, they must establish from the very outset the viability of their candidacy. Since nomination contests are, in effect, winnowing processes (see, e.g., Matthews, 1978), presidential aspirants who fail to establish their credibility very early in the race may find themselves left at the post, their supporters having forsaken them for other, seemingly more electable candidates. On the other hand, those who do well early in the fray live to fight another day. Indeed, they are likely, according to a related bit of conventional wisdom, to hop aboard a victory bandwagon, with impressive early performances enhancing their support and this increased support in turn bolstering their subsequent performance. Taken in tandem, the ideas that it is vital to do well early and that doing well becomes self-perpetuating form the keystones of momentum -based interpretations of the presidential nomination process.
Investigation of Current Status of Hydrofluoric Acid use in Artificial Gem Processing Industry in Wuzhou City

[Objective]To understand the conditions of hydrofluoric acid using in artificial gem processing industry in Wuzhou city,and put forward occupational disease prevention interventions in order to prevent the occurrence of occupational diseases.[Methods] A cross-sectional study and random sampling method were conducted to detect concentrations of hydrogen fluoride which volatile from hydrofluoric acid at the artificial gem workplace.[Results]The range of hydrogen fluoride concentration of 2 enterprises and 4 family workshops were 0.014 ～ 2.780 mg/m3 and 0.099 ～ 7.852 mg/m3,respectively;their corresponding exceeding rates of the maximum allowable concentration were 17.65% and 42.86%,respectively.[Conclusion]Wuzhou artificial gem processing industry is still lack of standard management measures for the prevention of occupational diseases.In order to prevent occupational diseases,the relevant departments need to formulate and organize the implementation of effective interventions
Parameter Establishment of Cooling Schedule Base on Uniform Design

In general the parameters of cooling schedule are determined by experience and experiment.This leads to heavy work load and difficult to obtain the optimal combination of the parameters and affects the use of simulated annealing algorithm.Uniform design method was used to convert the problem of parameter establishment into the experimental design of multi-factor and multilevel and reduce the work load of experiment greatly of simulation.Simulation results show that the proposed method is feasible and valid.
Sino-Australia Agricultural Product Intra-industry: Trade and Its Influencing Factors

Based on the data from UN COMTRADE DATABASE,this paper analyzes the level and structure of Sino-Australia agricultural product intra-industry trade from 1992 to 2011 and further estimate its influencing factors. The research result shows that,intra-industry trade and inter-industry trade coexist in Sino-Australia agricultural product trade,and the total level of intra-industry trade is relatively low. The main source of incremental changes of Sino-Australia agricultural product trade is inter-industry trade, but the effect of intra- industry trade is increasing. The main source of incremental changes of Sino-Australia agricultural product intra-industry trade is vertical intra-industry trade,but the effect of horizontal intra-industry trade is increasing in recent years. Economic scales,difference in average income, Australia's market openness,Australia's direct investment in China and trade imbalance of agricultural product have significant effect on the level and structure of Sino-Australia agricultural product intra-industry trade.
Quantitation of uterine activity.

Quantitation of uterine activity provides a means of evaluating the effect of specific events, such as manipulation, medication, and anesthesia, on uterine activity. Thus, this is an important tool for diagnosing abnormal labor and aiding in the management of labor. The development of techniques to measure uterine activity and the current state of the art are outlined.
Limitation of cardiac output by a coronary alpha 1-constrictor tone during exercise in dogs

This study was performed to examine whether an alpha 1-constrictor tone, which limits coronary functional hyperemia during exercise, imposes a significant limitation on global cardiac performance as determined by cardiac output (CO). Seven dogs were chronically instrumented to measure left ventricular pressure (LVP), maximum rate of rise of LVP (dP/dtmax), heart rate (HR), mean aortic pressure (AoP), circumflex blood flow velocity (CFV), and CO at rest and during submaximal exercise. Either the selective alpha 1-adrenergic antagonist prazo (0.5 mg) or the vasodilator adenosine was administered into the circumflex artery during exercise at 6.4 kilometers per hour (kph)/16% treadmill incline. Exercise caused significant increase in mean AoP, HR, LVP, dP/dtmax, CFV, stroke volume (SV), and CO, whereas systemic vascular resistance (SVR) was significantly reduced. After intracoronary alpha 1-blockade with prazosin, CFV, dP/dtmax, SV, and CO increased further (17 +/- 2, 19 +/- 3, 16 +/- 2, and 17 +/- 2%, respectively) without changing mean AoP, HR, or SVR. Comparable increases were observed when CFV was increased by a similar degree using the direct vasodilator adenosine. These results indicate that increasing coronary flow by removing a coronary alpha 1-constrictor tone with prazosin or by direct vasodilation with adenosine during submaximal exercise leads to an increase in myocardial oxygen supply and, as a result, cardiac pump performance (SV and CO).
Translational Perspective on the Role of Testosterone in Sexual Function and Dysfunction.

Abstract Introduction The biological importance of testosterone is generally accepted by the medical community; however, controversy focuses on its relevance to sexual function and the sexual response, and our understanding of the extent of its role in this area is evolving. Aim To provide scientific evidence examining the role of testosterone at the cellular and molecular levels as it pertains to normal erectile physiology and the development of erectile dysfunction and to assist in guiding successful therapeutic interventions for androgen-dependent sexual dysfunction. Methods In this White Paper, the Basic Science Committee of the Sexual Medicine Society of North America assessed the current basic science literature examining the role of testosterone in sexual function and dysfunction. Results Testosterone plays an important role in sexual function through multiple processes: physiologic (stimulates activity of nitric oxide synthase), developmental (establishes and maintains the structural and functional integrity of the penis), neural (development, maintenance, function, and plasticity of the cavernous nerve and pelvic ganglia), therapeutically for dysfunctional regulation (beneficial effect on aging, diabetes, and prostatectomy), and phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibition (testosterone supplement to counteract phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor resistance). Conclusion Despite controversies concerning testosterone with regard to sexual function, basic science studies provide incontrovertible evidence for a significant role of testosterone in sexual function and suggest that properly administered testosterone therapy is potentially advantageous for treating male sexual dysfunction.
The Effect of the Di-Tertiary Butyl Peroxide (DTBP) additive on HCCI Combustion of Fuel Blends of Ethanol and Diethyl Ether

The influence of the small amounts (1-3%) of the additive di-tertiary butyl peroxide (DTBP) on the combustion event of Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) engines was investigated using engine experiments, numerical modeling, and carbon-14 isotope tracing. DTBP was added to neat ethanol and diethyl ether (DEE) in ethanol fuel blends for a range of combustion timings and engine loads. The addition of DTBP to the fuel advanced combustion timing in each instance, with the DEE-in-ethanol mixture advancing more than the ethanol alone. A numerical model reproduced the experimental results. Carbon-14 isotope tracing showed that more ethanol burns to completion in DEE-in-ethanol blends with a DTBP additive when compared to results for DEE-in-ethanol without the additive. However, the addition of DTBP did not elongate the heat release in either case. The additive advances combustion timing for both pure ethanol and for DEE-in-ethanol mixtures, but the additive results in more of an advance in timing for the DEE-in-ethanol mixture. This suggests that although there are both thermal and kinetic influences from the addition of DTBP, the thermal effects are more important.
9 – Technology and Education

“The most important bill on our whole code is that for the diffusion of knowledge among the people. No other sure foundation can be derived for the preservation of freedom and happiness.” THOMAS JEFFERSON
Randomized Controlled Trials and the Effects of Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy on Cardiovascular Disease: Facts, Hypotheses, and Clinical Perspective

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the randomized controlled trials designed to study the effects of hormone therapy on cardiovascular disease with the totality of data currently available. The cumulated randomized controlled trial data indicate that after 4 to 6 years of use, hormone therapy reduces coronary heart disease risk relative to placebo in women with or without pre-existing coronary heart disease. In addition, early initiation of hormone therapy relative to menopause is also associated with a reduction in coronary heart disease. The randomized controlled trial results are supported by approximately 40 observational studies also indicating that initiation of hormone therapy at the menopausal transition or early in the postmenopausal period and continued for a prolonged period of time results in significant reductions in coronary heart disease and overall mortality. Comparison of the results from randomized controlled trials, observational studies, and case-control studies indicate that selection bias and confounding do not explain the consistent evidence that hormone therapy is associated with a duration- and time dependent lowering of coronary heart disease. The discordance in coronary heart disease outcome between randomized controlled trials and observational studies is a function of the differences in study design and the characteristics of the populations studied.
Searching strategy for multi-target discovery in wireless networks

In this paper, we address a fundamental problem concerning the optimal searching strategy in terms of searching cost for the multi-target discovery problem in wireless networks. In order to find the nearest k targets from a total of m members with the least cost , how many searching attempts should we use, and how large should each searching area be? After providing the applications that motivate our research, we model the problem and derive a general formula for the expected cost as a function of the parameters of the number of searching attempts n and the searching area for each attempt, Ai. Based on this formula, we propose several algorithms to determine the optimal parameters to achieve the minimal cost, either pre-calculated or performed online. Using the optimal parameters derived from analysis, we experiment with these algorithms on general wireless network scenarios. The results show that our algorithms perform consistently close to optimal, and they exhibit much better performance than other heuristic schemes. The desired performance is achieved by adapting the searching radius to estimates of network parameters such as the total number of nodes and the total number of targets.
EXTRAMICROSOMAL EPOXIDE HYDRATION

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the current knowledge of extramicrosomal epoxide hydration, concentrating on the activity in the cytosolic fraction. Epoxide hydrases are enzymes that add water to three-membered cyclic ethers (epoxides) to yield 1, 2–diols. Microsomal epoxide hydrases have received a great deal of attention; however, for some substrates, extramicrosomal epoxide hydration represents a major route of metabolism. This extramicrosomal hydration may be an important detoxification pathway as some, but not all, epoxides may be toxic, mutagenic, or carcinogenic. Epoxide hydrase activity is either microsomal or nuclear when styrene oxide is used as a substrate; however, styrene oxide is one of the few substrates not hydrated by the cytosolic and mitochondrial subcellular fractions. Epoxide hydrase in the cytosolic fraction is inhibited by divalent and monovalent copper ions, and divalent zinc or iron while trivalent iron stimulates epoxide hydrase activity.
Disparity of reported risk of hypersensitivity reactions (HSR) for platinum chemotherapeutic agents

e20662 Background: HSR are observed with multiple chemotherapeutic agents and patients should be counseled regarding risk. A wide variation in frequency of platinum HSR is reported in the literatur...
Narratives for Obesity: Effects of Weight Loss and Attribution on Empathy and Policy Support:

Despite an urgent need to address the issue of obesity, little research has examined the psychological factors that influence support for obesity-related policy initiatives, which represent an important tool for addressing this complex health issue. In the present study, we measured the degree to which people supported obesity-related policy interventions and empathized with a person struggling with obesity after reading a personal account of his or her situation. The narrative described an obese individual who was portrayed as either successfully losing weight or not, and as attributing his or her weight-loss outcome to personal or environmental factors. We found that protagonists who successfully lost weight and/or took personal responsibility for their situation elicited more empathy from participants, which was associated with support for societal policy interventions for obesity. These findings suggest that specific features of personal narratives influence support for obesity-related policies and highlight empathy as a mechanism through which such narratives affect obesity-related attitudes.
Cross Tabulation and Categorical Data Analysis

Often, we have questions about associations of events or variables with each other or their correlation with each other. For example, in pathology we commonly face the question of association of a test result with a disease status. In statistics, the process of testing the association between events is called hypothesis testing. If the variables are categorical (i.e., they can only assume finite discrete values), a common approach to hypothesis testing is to employ cross tabulation.
SUPPRESSION OF THE IMMUNE RESPONSE TO UV INDUCED TUMORS BY UV LIGHT

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the relationship between ultraviolet (UV) light exposure and skin-cancer formation in experimental animals. A detailed kinetic analysis into the phenomenon of UV induced tumor susceptibility has yielded many observations. Animals exposed to UV light gain tumor susceptibility after approximately 2 weeks of intermittent exposure. This is far less than the dosage of UV needed at the same expose rate to elicit tumor formation. In a study described in the chapter to determine whether any testable immunologic functions are altered by UV exposure, several in vivo and in vitro assays were performed. The immunologic impairment of UV exposed mice may be limited to the recognition and immunologic responses generated in response to subtle antigenic differences rather than to strong alloantigenic and mitogenic influences.
Mucins trigger dispersal of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms

Mucus is a biological gel that lines all wet epithelia in the body, including the mouth, lungs, and digestive tract, and has evolved to protect the body from pathogenic infection. However, microbial pathogenesis is often studied in mucus-free environments that lack the geometric constraints and microbial interactions in physiological three-dimensional mucus gels. We developed fluid-flow and static test systems based on purified mucin polymers, the major gel-forming constituents of the mucus barrier, to understand how the mucus barrier influences bacterial virulence, particularly the integrity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms, which can become resistant to immune clearance and antimicrobial agents. We found that mucins separate the cells in P. aeruginosa biofilms and disperse them into suspension. Other viscous polymer solutions did not match the biofilm disruption caused by mucins, suggesting that mucin-specific properties mediate the phenomenon. Cellular dispersion depended on functional flagella, indicating a role for swimming motility. Taken together, our observations support a model in which host mucins are key players in the regulation of microbial virulence. These mucins should be considered in studies of mucosal pathogenesis and during the development of novel strategies to treat biofilms.
Performance optimization techniques for the front and back of nanostructured ‘black silicon’ solar cells

In this work we present techniques to improve the front and back surface performance of nanostructured black silicon (bSi) solar cells. Proximity doping using ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (ADP) is used to reduce the physical impact on the nanostructure of bSi during fabrication. Potassium hydroxide (KOH) is used to etch off the highly doped region of the front emitter. Forming gas anneal (FGA) is employed to reduce the series resistance and enhance surface passivation, improving cell efficiency by over 31%. The back-surface-field (BSF) formed by sputtered aluminum (A1) is optimized to reduce backside recombination rate, improving external quantum efficiency (EQE) by an average of 8.31% in the long wavelength region.
Typical Areas of Confusion for Students New to Qualitative Research

Students who are new to qualitative research methods tend to struggle with a handful of key concepts. This chapter consists of some of my reflections regarding teaching introductory qualitative research methods courses for graduate students from a variety of fields. I detail the major challenges I have seen students struggle with in these classes, namely truth and objectivity, generalizability or lack thereof, positionality, and ambiguity. I interweave my perspectives about these challenges and hopefully provide some useful wisdom for students to take away.
SEX DIFFERENCES IN QUADRICEPS STRENGTH AMONG ADOLESCENTS WITHIN 1 YEAR OF ACL RECONSTRUCTION

BackgroundFemale patients with ACLR are 40% less likely to return to preinjury levels of sport after subsequent ACLR when compared to their male counterparts. Additionally, 24-30% of young female a...
High Q-Factor All-Dielectric Metasurface Based on Bound States in the Continuum

We propose a realization of bound states in the continuum (BICs) with metasurfaces. Resonances with theoretically-infinite quality-factors can be achieved in the BIC regime and with up to a few thousand in the near-BIC. © 2019 The Author(s)
Thrombin-cleaved syndecan-3/-4 ectodomain fragments mediate endothelial barrier dysfunction

Objective The endothelial glycocalyx constitutes part of the endothelial barrier but its degradation leaves endothelial cells exposed to transmigrating cells and circulating mediators that can damage the barrier or promote intercellular gaps. Syndecan proteins are key components of the endothelial glycocalyx and are shed during disease states where expression and activity of proteases such as thrombin are elevated. We tested the ability of thrombin to cleave the ectodomains of syndecans and whether the products could act directly on endothelial cells to alter barrier function. Approach and results Using transmission electron microscopy, we illustrated the presence of glycocalyx in human lung microvasculature. We confirmed expression of all syndecan subtypes on the endothelial surface of agarose-inflated human lungs. ELISA and western blot analysis suggested that thrombin can cleave syndecan-3/-4 ectodomains to produce fragments. In vivo, syndecan-3 ectodomain fragments increased extravasation of albumin-bound Evans blue in mouse lung, indicative of plasma protein leakage into the surrounding tissue. Syndecan-3/-4 ectodomain fragments decreased transendothelial electrical resistance, a measure of cell-cell adhesive barrier integrity, in a manner sensitive to a Rho kinase inhibitor. These effects were independent of glycosylation and thrombin receptor PAR1. Moreover, these cleavage products caused rapid VE-cadherin-based adherens junction disorganization and increased F-actin stress fibers, supporting their direct effect on endothelial paracellular permeability. Conclusions We suggest that thrombin can cleave syndecan-3/4 ectodomain into fragments which interact with endothelial cells causing paracellular hyperpermeability. This may have important implications in the pathogenesis of vascular dysfunction during sepsis or thrombotic disease states where thrombin is activated.
Combating Replay Attacks Against Voice Assistants

Recently, there has been a surge in the popularity of voice-first devices, such as Amazon Echo, Google Home, etc. While these devices make our life more convenient, they are vulnerable to new attacks, such as voice replay. We develop an end-to-end system to detect replay attacks without requiring a user to wear any wearable device. Our system, called REVOLT, has several distinct features: (i) it intelligently exploits the inherent differences between the spectral characteristics of the original and replayed voice signals, (ii) it exploits both acoustic and WiFi channels in tandem, (iii) it utilizes unique breathing rate extracted from WiFi signal while speaking to test the liveness of human voice. After extensive evaluation, our voice component yields Equal Error Rate (EER) of 0.88% and 10.32% in our dataset and ASV2017 dataset, respectively; and WiFi based breathing detection achieves Breaths Per Minute (BPM) error of 1.8 up to 3m distance. We further combine WiFi and voice based detection and show the overall system offers low false positive and false negative when evaluated against a range of attacks.
Smartphone fluorescence imager for quantitative dosimetry of protoporphyrin-IX-based photodynamic therapy in skin.

Significance: While clinical treatment of actinic keratosis by photodynamic therapy (PDT) is widely practiced, there is a well-known variability in response, primarily caused by heterogeneous accumulation of the photosensitizer protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) between patients and between lesions, but measurement of this is rarely done. Aim: Develop a smartphone-based fluorescence imager for simple quantitative photography of the lesions and their PpIX levels that can be used in a new clinical workflow to guide the reliability of aminolevulinic acid (ALA) application for improved lesion clearance. Approach: The smartphone fluorescence imager uses an iPhone and a custom iOS application for image acquisition, a 3D-printed base for measurement standardization, an emission filter for PpIX fluorescence isolation, and a 405-nm LED ring for optical excitation. System performance was tested to ensure measurement reproducibility and the ability to capture photosensitizer accumulation and photobleaching in pre-clinical and clinical settings. Results: PpIX fluorescence signal from tissue-simulating phantoms showed linear sensitivity in the 0.01 to 2.0 μ M range. Murine studies with Ameluz® aminolevulinic acid (ALA) gel and initial human testing with Levulan® ALA cream verified that in-vivo imaging was feasible, including that PpIX production over 1 h is easily captured and that photobleaching from the light treatment could be quantified. Conclusions: The presented device is the first quantitative wide-field fluorescence imaging system for PDT dosimetry designed for clinical skin use and for maximal ease of translation into clinical workflow. The results lay the foundation for using the system in clinical studies to establish treatment thresholds for the individualization of PDT treatment.
Kafka: the Database Inverted, but Not Garbled or Compromised

The Kafka streaming platform has at its heart a distributed commit log. This resembles the change log that exists in every relational database system. It has been suggested that Kafka be viewed not just as a messaging system, but as the core of a database. The database is in effect “turned inside out” as the normally hidden change log becomes the first class entity of the system, while what is normally considered primary, i.e. the table, view, indexes etc. are just derived from this log. This is appealing as a vision, but raises challenges when applied within an actual enterprise system. The challenges arise from the conflicting interests and requirements of analytics and transactional systems. Running everything on a single system leads to tradeoffs; our intentions here is to identify some of the practical problems with using Kafka as a single data store within an enterprise and to describe our initial approach to resolving them. In particular we present preliminary approaches to ensure consistency and coherence of data from multiple database tables when distributed over Kafka and how to address compliance by encrypting/decrypting data at the Kafka producers and consumers.
Chapter 2 – Frame Fields

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the geometry of curves in R3 because the basic method used to investigate curves has proved effective throughout the study of differential geometry. A curve in R3 is studied by assigning at each point a certain frame—that is, set of three orthogonal unit vectors. The rate of change of these vectors along the curve is then expressed in terms of the vectors themselves by Frenet formulas. This method of moving frames is used to study a surface in R3. In the case of a curve, the chapter uses only the Frenet frame field T, N, B of the curve. Expressing the derivatives of these vector fields in terms of the vector fields themselves, this derives the curvature and torsion of the curve. The curvature and torsion reveal a lot about the geometry of a curve. The chapter highlights that the Cartan's generalization of the Frenet formulas follows the same pattern of expressing the (covariant) derivatives of these vector fields in terms of the vector fields themselves. Cartan's equations are not conspicuously more complicated than Frenet's, because the notion of 1-form is available for the coefficients ωij, the connection forms.
Advisor Interaction Goals and Verbal Messages: Merging a Multiple Goals Approach and the Integrated Model of Advice Giving:

Based on the integrated model of advice giving and theorizing about interaction goals, we examined how advisors’ goal intensity and complexity predicted perceptions of advisor harmfulness and helpf...
From Public Participation to Constitutional Legitimacy: Evidence from Tunisia:

Does public participation in constitution-making processes enhance constitutional legitimacy? Using an original public opinion survey conducted in Tunisia shortly after the adoption of the 2014 Con...
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Disease Progression Presents Difficulties in Brain Computer Interface Use

Brain Computer Interface (BCI) systems potentially provide those with disabilities an alternative means to communicate and control their environment, increasing independence and quality of life. The goal of our study was to examine the effect of disease progression on the efficiency of communication using a P300 BCI speller. To address this, BCI data was analyzed from 19 people living with ALS at various stages of disease. Accuracy in word spelling showed significant correlation to ALSFRS-R score, a measure of disease severity and worsening function, with decreased accuracy as the disease progressed. This decrease in accuracy may be attributed to system components and methodology that lead to an increase in fatigue for people with less function, but alternatively may be due to the progressive changes in neural networks as the patient progresses. Adjustments to BCI systems, use of alternative event potentials, or alternative technologies may be necessary to optimize BCI use in ALS.
The United States in Kazakhstani public opinion: Double-edged cultural influence and the collateral damage of foreign policy:

This article employs surveys by Gallup, the Central Asia Barometer, and the Barometer of Eurasian Integration, as well as focus groups that were commissioned as part of this research, to argue (1) ...
Geochemistry of the redox-sensitive trace elements molybdenum, tungsten, and rhenium in the euxinic porewaters and bottom sediments of the Pettaquamscutt River estuary, Rhode Island

Abstract Molybdenum (Mo), tungsten (W), and rhenium (Re) concentrations were measured in the porewaters and sediments of the highly stratified Upper Basin of the Pettaquamscutt River estuary (Rhode Island) to investigate the geochemical processes that influence their concentrations in euxinic systems. Total dissolved sulfide (i.e., ΣS-II) concentrations in the porewaters averaged 3.95 mmol kg−1, whereas the porewaters exhibited average Mo, W, and Re concentrations of 830 nmol kg−1, 69 nmol kg−1, and 7.4 nmol kg−1, respectively. The sediments were subjected to chemical extractions to characterize the reactive fraction (i.e., associated with iron (Fe) monosulfides, Fe/manganese (Mn) oxides/oxyhydroxides, and/or Fe/Mn carbonate minerals) and the pyritized fraction of Mo, W, and Re in the sediments. The reactive fraction of each metal decreased with depth from subsurface maxima near the sediment-water interface, whereas the pyritized fractions exhibited a number of subsurface maxima. Rhenium exhibited the greatest degree of trace metal pyritization (DTMP) in the estuary sediments, followed closely by Mo. Specifically, the DTMP for Re ranged from 75 to 88% and exhibited a mean ( ± 1σ) of 80 ± 4% for the entire sediment core, whereas the DTMP for Mo ranged from 34 to 89% with a mean ( ± 1σ) of 73 ± 18%. In contrast, the DTMP for W was lower, ranging from 48 to 73%, but with a mean ( ± 1σ) of 58 ± 8%. Therefore, about 80%, on average, of the Re and 74% of the Mo that enters the northern portion of the Pettaquamscutt River estuary by the combination of stream water inflow (i.e., Gilbert Stuart Stream) and submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is eventually fixed within the pyrite fraction of the euxinic bottom sediments. However, only about 60% of the W appears to be fixed in the pyrite fraction in these sediments, whereas the other 40% remains in the reactive sediment pool. We suggest that the different behavior of W compared to Re and Mo in the euxinic porewater and sediments of the Pettaquamscutt River estuary's upper basin reflects, in part, differences in their aqueous speciation and particle reactivity that appears to be dictated by differential uptake and fixation of their respective thioanions (i.e., MoS42−, WS42−, ReS4−) with Fe sulfide minerals.
The genetics of eating behaviors: research in the age of COVID-19

How much pleasure we take in eating is more than just how much we enjoy the taste of food. Food involvement - the amount of time we spend on food beyond the immediate act of eating and tasting - is key to the human food experience. We took a biological approach to test whether food-related behaviors, together capturing food involvement, have genetic components and are partly due to inherited variation. We collected data via an internet survey from a genetically informative sample of 419 adult twins (114 monozygotic twin pairs, 31 dizygotic twin pairs, and 129 singletons). Because we conducted this research during the pandemic, we also ascertained how many participants had experienced COVID-19-associated loss of taste and smell. Since these respondents had previously participated in research in person, we measured their level of engagement to evaluate the quality of their online responses. Additive genetics explained 16-44% of the variation in some measures of food involvement, most prominently various aspects of cooking, suggesting some features of the human food experience may be inborn. Other features reflected shared (early) environment, captured by respondents twin status. About 6% of participants had a history of COVID-19 infection, many with transitory taste and smell loss, but all but one had recovered before the survey. Overall, these results suggest that people may have inborn as well as learned variations in their involvement with food. We also learned to adapt to research during a pandemic by considering COVID-19 status and measuring engagement in online studies of human eating behavior.
Dialogue with a conversational agent promotes children's story comprehension via enhancing engagement.

Dialogic reading, when children are read a storybook and engaged in relevant conversation, is a powerful strategy for fostering language development. With the development of artificial intelligence, conversational agents can engage children in elements of dialogic reading. This study examined whether a conversational agent can improve children's story comprehension and engagement, as compared to an adult reading partner. Using a 2 (dialogic reading or non-dialogic reading) × 2 (agent or human) factorial design, a total of 117 three- to six-year-olds (50% Female, 37% White, 31% Asian, 21% multi-ethnic) were randomly assigned into one of the four conditions. Results revealed that a conversational agent can replicate the benefits of dialogic reading with a human partner by enhancing children's narrative-relevant vocalizations, reducing irrelevant vocalizations, and improving story comprehension.
Advances in Axial Imaging of Peripheral Vascular Disease

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) has become increasingly common in the US patient population and can be a highly symptomatic and significant source of morbidity. When PAD is suspected, the first-line screening study that is obtained is typically a noninvasive evaluation that includes the ankle brachial index (ABI). Following a positive screening study, invasive catheter digital subtraction angiography (DSA) has been historically used to image the peripheral artery system and still remains the gold standard. However, newer developments in axial imaging including computed tomography angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) have in large part supplanted DSA for imaging the peripheral artery system in clinical practice. Benefits of CTA include rapid noninvasive acquisition, wide availability, high spatial resolution, and the ability to generate isotropic datasets on 64-detector row and higher CT scanners, thereby allowing for multiplanar 3D reformatting. Drawbacks of CTA include the exposure to both iodinated contrast and ionizing radiation, although the radiation dose exposure is lower than for DSA, and newer techniques such as using low tube voltage and rapid acquisition times allow for lower contrast doses. The presence of vascular calcification also limits the evaluation of small distal arteries using CTA, although the development of dual-energy CT techniques has significantly addressed this issue. Benefits of MRA include the avoidance of exposure to ionizing radiation and high diagnostic accuracy, while drawbacks include limited availability and increased cost along with the risk of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis that is associated with gadolinium-based contrast agents, although the latter can be mitigated by using newer non-contrast MR angiography techniques. Future technical advances in CT and MR hardware and software and MR pulse sequences will likely lead to the broader applicability and increased accuracy of noninvasive axial imaging in the evaluation of patients with peripheral artery disease.
The role of informal communication in the engineering design process: design notebooks

The preparation of design notebooks by engineering students is discussed with reference to a required course for senior mechanical engineering students at Rensselaer called 'Design of Mechanical Systems'. The guidelines provided for the students at the beginning of the semester for preparing a design notebook of their work are presented. Experiences to date, covering approximately six semesters, with having the students prepare a design notebook are summarized. The students have trouble at the beginning of the semester filling in design notebooks. It is found out that students have trouble distinguishing between essential and non-essential facts. Faculty members find the notebook a useful tool to assess a student's contribution to the team effort. >
Identity of Escherichia coli tRNA(Cys) determined by nucleotides in three regions of tRNA tertiary structure.

Abstract The in vivo aminoacylation specificity of tRNA(Cys) was studied with mutants of opal and amber suppressor tRNAs in Escherichia coli. This specificity depends not only on nucleotides in the acceptor end and anticodon of tRNA(Cys), but also on nucleotides in the dihydrouridine stem and loop and the variable loop that interact, forming the complex core of tRNA tertiary structure.
Spectral density of quantum fields in cosmic-string space-time

We examine how a topological gravitational field influences the process of absorption and emission of quanta of a Hermitian scalar field by a pointlike monopole detector. The spectral density is calculated and the renormalized energy density registered by the detector is presented.
Mutation of a heterothallic strain to homothallism.

ABSTRACT Upon mutagenesis, a heterothallic αα diploid strain mutated to homothallism. The gene confering homothallism is nuclear, recessive, and unlinked to mating type. This gene is not allelic to the HO gene, which is responsible for previously described instances of homothallism in yeast. We have designated this new gene for homothallism as cmt (change of mating type).
The Legacy of Shingwaukonse: A Century of Native Leadership

The Legacy of Shingwaukonse:. Century of Native Leadership. Janet E. Chute. Toronto, Canada: University of Toronto Press. 1998. 359 pp.
A microdebonding test for in situ assessment of fibre/matrix bond strength in composite materials

Abstract A test technique which gives a quantitative measure of the in situ fibre/matrix bond strength in fibre-reinforced composite materials is described. The test involves the compressive loading of a fibre or region of fibres on a polished specimen surface to produce debonding. Results are presented for the debonding load for glass/epoxy, aramid/epoxy and graphite/epoxy composites. The change in debonding load is also followed as the interface degrades during moisture conditioning at different points through the thickness of the material. It is concluded that refinements to the technique are needed to simplify interpretation of the debonding force in terms of interface shear strength, and to make the test more reproducible.
Susceptibility of Adult Rats to Lead-induced Changes in NMDA Receptor Complex Function

Because cognitive impairments can occur with occupational Pb exposures, changes in NMDA receptor complex function might be expected to occur in adult rats treated with Pb. Using drug discrimination procedures, MK-801 sensitivity was determined in adult rats at three time points: after chronic exposure to 0, 50, or 150 ppm Pb acetate; again after exposure levels were increased to 500 and 1000 ppm; and 6 months after termination of Pb exposure. Changes in blood (PbB) and brain Pb levels, and in MK-801 and CGP-39653 binding, were examined in additional groups of nonbehaviorally tested rats. Pb decreased MK-801 sensitivity after Pb exposure levels were increased, but only at 500 ppm, indicating biphasic effects and precluding any correspondence between behavioral changes and biomarkers of exposure. Associated PbBs were higher, but brain Pbs similar to those associated with MK-801 sensitivity changes following postnatal and postweaning exposures. Neither MK-801 nor CGP-39653 binding was systematically affected by chronic Pb exposure in adults. Although adult Pb exposures do produce changes in NMDA function, at least as indicated by changes in MK-801 sensitivity, vulnerability to such effects is clearly less pronounced than with exposures occurring earlier in development.