cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Online Assessment System with Offline Capabilities

There has been increasing research in developing offline web applications. This paper concentrates on developing a new methodology for the online assessment web applications that could be used while offline. It is important to retrieve the critical data collected during an examination without a provision of a backup mechanism. There is a need for an assessment system that can adapt to work uninterruptedly and without loss of critical data while there is intermittent internet discontinuity. This paper describes architecture and implementation of online assessment system with offline capabilities. Online assessment system with offline capabilities will not interrupt examinee's experience while appearing for an assessment test if internet connection is not available. A development methodology is designed and a compliant framework is implemented to enhance online assessment system with offline capabilities.
Force spectroscopy of complex biopolymers with heterogeneous elasticity

Cellular biopolymers can exhibit significant compositional heterogeneities as a result of the non-uniform binding of associated proteins, the formation of microstructural defects during filament assembly, or the imperfect bundling of filaments into composite structures of variable diameter. These can lead to significant variations in the local mechanical properties of biopolymers along their length. Existing spectral analysis methods assume filament homogeneity and therefore report only a single average stiffness for the entire filament. However, understanding how local effects modulate biopolymer mechanics in a spatially resolved manner is essential to understanding how binding and bundling proteins regulate biopolymer stiffness and function in cellular contexts. Here, we present a new method to determine the spatially varying material properties of individual complex biopolymers from the observation of passive thermal fluctuations of the filament conformation. We develop new statistical mechanics-based approaches for heterogeneous filaments that estimate local bending elasticities as a function of the filament arc-length. We validate this methodology using simulated polymers with known stiffness distributions, and find excellent agreement between derived and expected values. We then determine the bending elasticity of microtubule filaments of variable composition generated by repeated rounds of tubulin polymerization using either GTP or GMPCPP, a nonhydrolyzable GTP analog. Again, we find excellent agreement between mechanical and compositional heterogeneities.
A humidity blocker approach to overcoming the humidity interference with cationic photopolymerization

A humidity blocker approach to overcoming the humidity interference with cationic photopolymerization is proposed and validated. Environmental humidity is one of the major interfering factors in cationic photopolymerization, and cationic photopolymerization is found to be inhibited by high humidity. When curing cycloaliphatic epoxide based cationic UV curable materials flexibilized by various reactive diluents under different humidity conditions, it was found that the more hydrophobic materials exhibited higher monomer conversion under higher humidity. To obtain cationic UV curable materials that are less influenced by humidity, a humidity blocker approach was proposed and monomer conversion of materials containing both hydroxy-functional reactive diluents and epoxy-siloxane were examined using real-time FTIR. The hydroxy-functional reactive diluents act as an internal hydroxyl source that enhances monomer conversion through chain transfer mechanism, and the hydrophobic epoxy-siloxane acts as a humidity blocker, mitigating the inhibiting effects of humidity. Cationic UV curable materials with an optimized combination of these two components exhibited higher and more consistent monomer conversion under a range humidity conditions. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4344–4351, 2008
Value From Regulatory Fit

Where does value come from? I propose a new answer to this classic question. People experience regulatory fit when the manner of their engagement in an activity sustains their goal orientation or interests regarding that activity. When there is fit, people engage more strongly in what they are doing and “feel right” about it. Fit influences the strength of value experiences—how good or how bad one feels about something—independently of the pleasure and pain experiences that are associated with outcomes. It uniquely contributes to people's experience of the value of things. Fit is shown to influence judgments and decision making, attitude and behavior change, and task performance.
A High Percentage of Serum Samples That Test Reactive by Enzyme Immunoassay for Anti-Brucella Antibodies Are Not Confirmed by the Standard Tube Agglutination Test

We describe a retrospective analysis of Brucella enzyme immunoassay (EIA) IgM and IgG results compared to those of the standard tube agglutination test (SAT). Among 1,091 samples tested, 104 (9.5%) and 24 (2.2%) sera were positive by IgM and IgG EIA, respectively. Supplemental testing by SAT showed that 82.7% (86/104) of IgM EIA-reactive samples and 54.2% (13/24) of IgG EIA-reactive samples were negative by SAT. Testing all EIA screen-reactive samples by SAT is required when evaluating patients for potential brucellosis. Due to the limitations of serology, culture remains the gold standard for detecting Brucella infection.
Structural Characteristics and Reactivity/Reducibility Properties of Dispersed and Bilayered V2O5/TiO2/SiO2 Catalysts

Dispersed and bilayered V2O5/TiO2/SiO2 catalysts were successfully synthesized by the incipient wetness impregnation method, and their surface structures under various conditions were extensively investigated by combined in situ Raman, UV−vis−NIR diffuse reflectance and X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopies, as well as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Temperature-programmed reduction and methanol oxidation were employed as chemical probe reactions to examine the reducibility and reactivity/selectivity of these catalysts. The spectroscopic results revealed that both vanadium oxide and titanium oxide on SiO2 are dispersed as two-dimensional metal oxide overlayers. The surface vanadium oxide species on the dispersed TiO2/SiO2 are predominantly isolated VO4 units [OV(O−support)3] in the dehydrated state and become polymerized VO5/VO6 units upon hydration. The surface vanadium oxide species preferentially interact with the surface titanium oxide species on silica, and the V(V) cations possess oxygenated l...
EVOLVING INSIDER THREAT DETECTION STREAM MINING PERSPECTIVE

Evidence of malicious insider activity is often buried within large data streams, such as system logs accumulated over months or years. Ensemble-based stream mining leverages multiple classificatio...
Wave-Current Interaction in an Oceanic Circulation Model with a Vortex-Force Formalism: Application to the Surf Zone

Abstract A vortex-force formalism for the interaction of surface gravity waves and currents is implemented in a three-dimensional (3D), terrain-following, hydrostatic, oceanic circulation model (Regional Oceanic Modeling System: ROMS; Shchepetkin and McWilliams, 2005 ). Eulerian wave-averaged current equations for mass, momentum, and tracers are included in ROMS based on an asymptotic theory by McWilliams et al. (2004) plus non-conservative wave effects due to wave breaking, associated surface roller waves, bottom streaming, and wave-enhanced vertical mixing and bottom drag especially for coastal and nearshore applications. The currents are coupled with a spectrum-peak WKB wave-refraction model that includes the effect of currents on waves, or, alternatively, a spectrum-resolving wave model (e.g., SWAN) is used. The coupled system is applied to the nearshore surf zone during the DUCK94 field measurement campaign. Model results are compared to the observations and effects of parameter choices are investigated with emphasis on simulating and interpreting the vertical profiles for alongshore and cross-shore currents. The model is further compared to another ROMS-based 3D coupled model by Warner et al. (2008) with depth-dependent radiation stresses on a plane beach. In both tests the present model manifests an onshore surface flow and compensating offshore near-bed undertow near the shoreline and around the breaking point. In contrast, the radiation-stress prescription yields significantly weaker vertical shear. The currents’ cross-shore and vertical structure is significantly shaped by the wave effects of near-surface breaker acceleration, vertical component of vortex force, and wave-enhanced pressure force and bottom drag.
FLEX: towards flexible real-time programs

Abstract Programs for hard real-time systems have stringent timing requirements. To ensure that these deadlines will always be met, real-time programs are usually designed for the worst-case scenario. In addition to being inefficient in the normal case, such programs are susceptible to environmental variations. We describe a language called FLEX which makes it possible to program real-time systems which may respond to dynamic environments. In the worst-case when certain resources are not available, the program may produce approximate, imprecise results. This ability to write programs which are flexible in their execution time is provided by using constraints to express timing requirements, and sieves and imprecise values to obtain imprecise results.
Average technique and its algebraic geometric applications

In this paper we develop a systematical way to compute the integral \(\int _{\mathbb {P}^{r-1}} \frac{|\sum _{i=1}^{r}f_iX_i|^2(\sum h_{i\bar{j}}X_i\bar{X}_j)^{k}}{(\sum _{j=1}^p|\sum _{i=1}^{r} g_{ji} X_i|^2)^{r+k+1}}h_0\,\mathrm{d}V_X \) on the projective space \(\mathbb {P}^{r-1}\). Then by this average technique we can link Skoda’s two division theorems together and by the algebraic verification of the fundamental inequality applied to the division theorems we can derive some vanishing theorems.
Biochemical and structural impact of natural polymorphism in the HLA-A3 superfamily

Class I alleles of the HLA-A3 superfamily (-A*0301, -A*1101, -A*3101, -A*3301, and -Aw*6801) share largely overlapping peptide repertoires. Cross-reactive T cell responses between HLA-A3-like molecule/peptide complexes have been demonstrated in vitro and during natural diseases. In spite of this immune relatedness, HLA-A3-like molecules exhibit noticeable differences in their antigen-selecting and -presenting properties. Identifying molecular and structural features responsible for these differences is important for understanding how natural polymorphism leads to functional divergence within the HLA-A3 superfamily. Towards this goal, we used an approach that combines thermal stability data on recombinant, soluble HLA-A3-like molecules complexed with a nonamer and decamer HIV-1 peptide, together with a detailed structural analysis of these HLA-A3-like molecule/peptide complexes based on crystal and molecular model structures. Our studies revealed the importance of residues 9 and 67 for modulating peptide selection within the B pocket; of residue 97 for modulating peptide selection within the F pocket interdependently with the presence (or absence) of a middle, secondary anchor residue; and of residues 70, 73, 97, 152, and 156 for modulating peptide presentation in the central region of the groove that leads to altered antigenic surfaces. Overall, our detailed assessment of the biochemical and structural impact of natural polymorphism within the HLA-A3 superfamily has permitted to understand how HLA-A3-like molecules differ at the level of their primary and secondary anchor pockets causing fine differences in their peptide-selecting and -presenting properties. A better understanding of the molecular immunological properties of HLA-A3-like molecules is significantly important for the rationale design of broad peptide-based vaccines.
Cooperative spectrum sensing using Q-learning with experimental validation

Spectrum sensing detects the availability of the radio frequency spectrum and it is essential to cognitive radio. Cooperative spectrum sensing conducted among multiple secondary users has the potentials for solving the hidden terminal problem and achieving a better performance. In this paper, an approach for cooperative spectrum sensing based on Q-learning is proposed. Real-world Wi-Fi signals measured from four different locations are employed to evaluate the performance of the proposed approach. Experimental result shows the performance of the proposed approach is better than that of the popular M-out-of-N rule. The proposed approach is effective. This work is a part of the efforts toward building a cognitive radio network testbed.
OFF-State leakage current mechanisms in bulkSi and SOI MOSFETs and their impact on CMOS ULSIs standby current

In this work, an analytical model of the OFF-state leakage current in metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistors and its relation with the standby current of logic complementary MOS (CMOS) ICs is presented. The OFF leakage currents in (1) bulk MOS; (2) floating-body silicon-on-insulator (FB-SOI); and (3) body-tied SOI (BT-SOI) MOS field effect transistors (MOSFETs) are modeled based on physics mechanisms, equivalent circuits and operational block diagrams. Good correlation is obtained between the theory and experimental devices. The model clarifies and quantifies that in thin film FB-SOI, the OFF leakage current is dominated by (a) V/sub th/ at drain voltages lower than the onset of the "kink" effect V/sub ds/ V/sub dk/. The OFF-state leakage current model is successfully applied to the analysis and prediction of the leakage current components in logic integrated circuits (CMOS ICs).
Using hardware transactional memory to correct and simplify and readers-writer lock algorithm

Designing correct synchronization algorithms is notoriously difficult, as evidenced by a bug we have identified that has apparently gone unnoticed in a well-known synchronization algorithm for nearly two decades. We use hardware transactional memory (HTM) to construct a corrected version of the algorithm. This version is significantly simpler than the original and furthermore improves on it by eliminating usage constraints and reducing space requirements. Performance of the HTM-based algorithm is competitive with the original in "normal" conditions, but it does suffer somewhat under heavy contention. We successfully apply some optimizations to help close this gap, but we also find that they are incompatible with known techniques for improving progress properties. We discuss ways in which future HTM implementations may address these issues. Finally, although our focus is on how effectively HTM can correct and simplify the algorithm, we also suggest bug fixes and workarounds that do not depend on HTM.
OLA with transmission threshold for strip networks

The opportunistic large array (OLA) with transmission threshold (OLA-T) is a simple form of cooperative transmission that limits node participation in broadcasts. Performance of OLA-T has been studied for disc-shaped networks. This paper analyzes OLA-T for strip-shaped networks. The results also apply to arbitrarily shaped networks that have previously limited node participation to a strip. The analytical results include a condition for sustained propagation, which implies a bound on the transmission threshold. OLA transmission on a strip network with and without a transmission threshold are compared in terms of total energy consumption.
Land subsidence in Houston, Texas, measured by radar interferometry and constrained by extensometers

[1] We present results from a radar interferometry study over the Houston-Galveston, Texas Gulf Coast region. From the nearly 60 potential interferograms considered, an atmospheric artifact assessment is performed and a tractable set of interferograms selected for detailed processing and error analysis. The subsequent interferogram time series spanning 1996–1998 is constrained by coincident extensometer data with root-mean-square error less than 2.5 mm. The interferogram time series confirms that historic subsidence in east Houston has stopped. Consistent with current groundwater use patterns, broad-scale subsidence bowls are observed in west and northwest Houston, where maximum subsidence rates are in excess of 2 and 4 cm yr−1, respectively. Linear interferogram phase signatures associated with approximately 1 cm of differential subsidence across faults, including the Long Point fault in northwest Houston, are observed. Near the Seabrook extensometer, a hereto-unidentified subsidence bowl with a maximum subsidence rate in excess of 3 cm yr−1 is revealed. This study demonstrates that when used in conjunction with a set of traditional geodetic measurements, radar interferometry can measure the spatial and temporal evolution of urban land subsidence within even the most challenging of environments.
Effects of scratching and other counterstimuli on responses of trigeminothalamic tract neurons to itch-inducing stimuli in rats

Counterstimuli such as scratching, pinching, noxious heat and cold, and innocuous cooling and warming have been shown to inhibit itch in humans. In the present study, the effects of each of these counterstimuli were determined on baseline firing rates and on sustained pruriceptive responses of rat trigeminothalamic tract neurons. We found that scratching had little, if any, effect on baseline firing levels but greatly reduced mean pruriceptive firing following scratching for nearly 1 min. None of the other noxious or innocuous counterstimuli significantly inhibited pruriceptive responses. Our results indicate that scratching, but not other counterstimuli, significantly reduces itch-induced responses of trigeminothalamic tract neurons.
Mechanism underlying diuretic effect of L-NAME at a subpressor dose.

The diuretic effects of nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitors administered at subpressor dose in rats are controversial, and the tubular segments involved are not known. In the present study, we ex...
EEC Water Quality Objectives for Chemicals Dangerous to Aquatic Environments (List 1)

Council directive 76/464/EEC of the European Communities (EEC 1976a) is concerned with pollution by certain dangerous substances being discharged into the aquatic environment from point sources, either direct or indirect, e.g., via sewage works. Originally, it did not intend to deal with diffuse sources of pollution, such as contamination of surface waters arising from run-off agricultural land, rain, dry deposition, etc. However, such sources may be taken into account as background information, and they may also be included by member states when using the quality objectives approach.
Arthrooplasty of the hip for congenital dislocation in children

From this follow-up study of ten to thirteen years, the following conclusions have been reached: 1. This two-stage procedure in the younger age group is permanently effective in providing accurate reduction, stability, and an excellent range of mobility. 2. Careful attention to details must be employed not only in the first and second stages, but also in the early part of the postoperative care. 3. The results have been better with the unilateral than with the bilateral case. 4. The procedure is not to be employed in children beyond the age of ten, wlile the best results have been obtained in children under eight years of age.
Chiral diffusion of rotary nanomotors.

Neither a purely deterministic rotary nanomotor nor a purely orientational diffuser exhibits long-term translational motion, but coupling rotation to orientational diffusion yields translational diffusion. We demonstrate that this effective translational diffusion can easily dominate the ordinary thermal translational diffusion for experimentally relevant nanomotors, and that this effective diffusion is chiral. Unpowered chiral particles do not exhibit chiral diffusion, but a nanorotor has both handedness and an instantaneous direction of powered motion, thus---unlike an unpowered particle---its diffusional motion can distinguish left from right.
Transmit Precoding in Underlay MIMO Cognitive Radio With Unavailable or Imperfect Knowledge of Primary Interference Channel

This paper addresses the problem of precoder design that maximizes the throughput of a secondary user (SU) in an underlay multiple-input multiple-output cognitive radio network, where the channel state information (CSI) from the SU to the primary user (PU) is unavailable or inaccurate. The design maintains the quality of service for the PU through an interference amount measure in terms of the interference temperature or the leakage rate. For the case of unknown CSI, we propose an iterative adaptation algorithm by exploiting the side information in the primary communication network. For the case of imperfect CSI, we model the amount of uncertainty to be within a convex set defined by the Schatten norm and apply the maximin optimization to obtain the solution. To complete this paper, we derive the conditions on the CSI uncertainty radius under which the robust design with imperfect CSI would not perform better than the one with unknown CSI, when using the interference temperature metric. The proposed techniques are supported by numerical simulations.
Temperature Induced Structural Changes ofβ-Crystallin and Sphingomyelin Binding

The study of the binding of alpha-crystallin to membranes is potentially important for understanding the function of alpha-crystallin in the ocular lens and the formation of cataracts. Using fluorescence probes, N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)-1,2-dihexadecanoyl-sn-glycero-3 -phosphoethanolamine, triethylammonium salt (NBD-PE) and (1,1'-bi(4-anilino)naphthalene-5,5'-disulfonic acid, dipotassium salt (bis-ANS), the temperature dependence of the binding of alpha-crystallin to sphingomyelin liposomes, and the structural changes of alpha-crystallin and sphingomyelin induced by temperature were studied. The influence of the binding of alpha-crystallin on the mobility of the head group region of liposomes of sphingomyelin was dependent on the thermal history of alpha-crystallin. Binding of alpha-crystallin to sphingomyelin caused a decrease in the anisotropy of the fluorophore NBD-PE at or below 37 degrees C. However, when alpha-crystallin or the mixture of alpha-crystallin/sphingomyelin were preincubated near the secondary structure phase transition temperature of 60 degrees C, an increase of the anisotropy of NBD-PE (decrease of lipid head group mobility) was observed when measured at 22 degrees C or 37 degrees C. An inflection near 47 degrees C in the curve of fluorescence anisotropy of bis-ANS pre-incorporated into the alpha-crystallin corresponded to a 3 degrees or 4 degrees structural change of alpha-crystallin. alpha-Crystallin either increases or decreases the flexibility of the head group of sphingomyelin liposomes depending on its structure.
Transdermal estrogen replacement in ovarian failure for ovum donation.

This study examined the efficacy of transdermal estradiol (TE 2 ) replacement versus oral estradiol (OE 2 ) through evaluation of peripheral steroid levels, endometrial morphology, and clinical outcome in six patients with ovarian failure. Patients were begun on sequential E 2 and progesterone replacement with transdermal E 2 patches. Endometrial biopsies were done on day 21 of the first replacement cycle and day 26 of the second cycle. Controls were 28 cycles on a regular 28-day micronized OE 2 protocol. No significant difference was found between E 2 levels throughout the cycle of the two respective stimulation protocols, except for days 12 to 14, when the OE 2 protocol produced significantly lower E 2 than did the TE 2 protocol ( P 1 ) and E 2 values in the OE 2 group (r = 0.92) ( P 2 administration, El was significantly higher than E 2 ( P 1 was not found to be higher than E 2 in the TE 2 group, resulting in a significant difference in the E 2 /E 1 ratio of 1.59 ± 1.6 for TE 2 compared with 0.13 ± .04 for OE 2 ( P 2 revealed glandular components that were dated as day 18.2 ± 1.7, while the stroma was dated as day 21.8 ± 0.8, a statistically significant disparity ( P 2 , the same significant 3-day glandular/stromal disparity was observed ( P 2 and OE 2 groups, respectively. Embryo transfer was performed in six cycles in patients on TE 2 . A viable intrauterine pregnancy was confirmed in three of the six. It would appear that TE 2 is comparable to OE 2 as an agent for estrogen replacement for donor egg recipients with premature ovarian failure.
PHENOMENOLOGY AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

Phenomenologists are among the strongest opponents of logical positivism. Mostly associated with Edmund Husserl, phenomenology is essentially an analytical method or framework for describing and explaining social relationships and psychological orientations. Phenomenologists attempt to account for the subjective qualities which logical positivists and empiricists assume to be unreal or are mistakenly treated as objective observable phenomena. The authors note that phenomenology has been absorbed into the literature and the language of the field especially in terms of how people do and do not relate to bureaucratic organizations and government programs.
Indoor localization: challenges and opportunities

Accurate indoor positioning can transform the retail, travel and transportation, and sports industries. For example, think of getting a mobile coupon for a shirt when you are standing near to it in a clothing store and turn-by-turn indoor navigation to the food booth with the shortest queue in airports and stadiums. While the Indoor Location market includes many new business opportunities (estimated around $4.5B by 2019), this emerging area suffers from shortcomings such as limited accuracy, complex maintenance of indoor sensing platforms and lack of data quality assessment tools. This talk will review existing indoor positioning technologies and will discuss their aforementioned limitations. We will present new directions for mitigating these limitations, and we will focus on novel data smoothing algorithms for cleansing noisy indoor data. These algorithms open market opportunities supporting new indoor use cases such detection of common customer paths, targeted/wanderer customers and queues length. Finally, we will discuss future trends in indoor localization and how these technologies will be able to pin point you to a small grocery product in a large supermarket.
The Stability of Self-Concept between Elementary and Junior High School in Catholic School Children

Researchers have found that self-concept in students fluctuates during times of change, such as the physical transition between elementary school and junior high. Since Catholic school students typically do not have the physical transition or social network changes in junior high, it was hypothesized that their self-concepts would not fluctuate. One hundred ninety-five ethnically diverse Catholic school students rated how they think and feel about their general, self-image, academic, and social self-concepts, as well as how important each item was to their self-concept. Students were initially in fourth, fifth, and sixth grade and subsequently in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade at the time of the longitudinal study. Overall, the results indicated that ratings of self-concept and the importance of the items remained stable between elementary and junior high school and for students of varying ethnicities. The results are compared to the findings from other studies. The lack of a physical transition and social network changes from elementary school to junior high may assist students from developing significantly lower self-concept in junior high, especially in academic and social self-concept.
Transnasal, Endoscopically Guided Skull-Based Surgery by Pharyngotomy for Mass Removal from the Sphenopalatine Sinus in a Horse

Objective To report a transnasal, endoscopically guided ventral surgical approach for accessing the cranial and caudal segments of the sphenopalatine sinus for mass removal in a horse. Study Design Case report. Animal Adult horse with acute onset blindness referable to a soft tissue mass within the sphenopalatine sinus. Clinical Report A 7-year-old Warmblood gelding presented with a history of running into a fence and falling. No neurologic signs were identified at initial examination but acute blindness was noted 3 weeks later. On computed tomography (CT) the sphenopalatine sinus was filled with a large homogeneous mass with poor contrast enhancement that extended dorsally with thinning to the dorsal cortex of the sphenoid bone, just rostral to the entrance of the optic canals into the cranial cavity. Surgical access to the sphenopalatine sinus was achieved using a transnasal, endoscopically guided ventral pharyngotomy approach and the mass lesion was removed. A presumptive diagnosis of chondroma was made based on histopathology. The horse recovered well from surgery, and although it has not regained vision as of 6.5 years postoperatively, the disease has not progressed. Conclusion Transnasal, endoscopically-guided ventral surgical access to the sphenopalatine sinus is possible in horses and may improve access in horses with disease extending caudally beyond the palatine portion of the sinus. Use of smaller diameter or specialized instruments, such as various endoscopic bone cutting instruments, and CT image guidance may improve sinus access by this route.
Assessing the Impact of Acupuncture on Pain, Nausea, Anxiety, and Coping in Women Undergoing a Mastectomy.

Purpose/objectives To compare the effect of acupuncture to a standard-of-care (control) group on pain, nausea, anxiety, and ability to cope. . Design Pilot randomized, controlled trial. . Setting Abbott Northwestern Hospital, a large, urban, tertiary care hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota. . Sample 30 adult women undergoing surgery for breast cancer. . Methods Women were randomly assigned to two hospital-based acupuncture treatments versus usual care after breast cancer surgery. Pain, nausea, anxiety, and the patient's ability to cope pre- and post-treatment were compared within and between groups at two different time points postoperatively. . Main research variables Mean change in pain, nausea, anxiety, and ability to cope by treatment group. . Findings Compared to women assigned to the control group, women who received acupuncture reported a statistically significant greater reduction in pain, nausea, anxiety, and increase in ability to cope on the first postoperative day and in pain on the second postoperative day following mastectomy surgery. . Conclusions Acupuncture delivered postoperatively in the hospital after mastectomy can reduce the severity of symptoms experienced, as well as increase the patient's ability to cope with her symptoms. However, before implementation as a standard of care, further research needs to be conducted. . Implications for nursing Acupuncture adds a nonpharmacologic intervention for symptom management in women undergoing mastectomies for breast cancer.
A permutation test for the spread of three-dimensional rotation data

The permutation test is a nonparametric test that can be used to compare measures of spread for two data sets, but is yet to be explored in the context of three-dimensional rotation data. A permuta...
The α-ω phase transition in shock-loaded titanium

We present a series of experiments probing the martensitic α–ω (hexagonal close-packed to simple hexagonal) transition in titanium under shock-loading to peak stresses around 15 GPa. Gas-gun plate impact techniques were used to locate the α–ω transition stress with a laser-based velocimetry diagnostic. A change in the shock-wave profile at 10.1 GPa suggests the transition begins at this stress. A second experiment shock-loaded and then soft-recovered a similar titanium sample. This recovered material was then analyzed with electron-backscatter diffraction methods, revealing on average approximately 65% retained ω phase. Furthermore, based on careful analysis of the microstructure, we propose that the titanium never reached a full ω state, and that there was no observed phase-reversion from ω to α. Texture analysis suggests that any α titanium found in the recovered sample is the original α. At these stresses, the data show that both the α and ω phases are stable and can coexist even though the shock-wave ...
A Short note on Accent–bias, Social Identity and Ethnocentrism

This paper discusses the interrelations among accent-based biases, social identity and ethnocentrism. Construction of social identity creates a set of ethnocentric values within a person, which indirectly or directly plays a pivotal role in generating accent related biases. Starting with Tajfel’s (1959) social identity theory and then the discussion of ethnocentrism, accent related biases have a long documented origin, development and consequences. People construct their social identity based on numerous variables and then their in-group and out-group memberships are established. Ethnocentrism, as a variable, influences listeners’ accent perception and subsequent judgment regarding their perceived accent. The degree of ethnocentrism is related to speakers’ potential accent biases. As legal safeguard against accent related biases is absent, active resistance and awareness-initiation are expected from speech language pathologists and the concerned community in general. Role of training institutions is discussed.
Chapter 10 Si-Based alloys: SiGe and SiGe:C

Summary The primary differences between the deposition of traditional Si epi and that of the alloys Si1−xGex and Si1−xGex:C are the requirements to process at low temperatures and take into consideration the different lattice constants of the materials. Tremendous benefits for bipolar technologies have been demonstrated with HBT and DFT structures which are capable of integration with Si CMOS devices. Applications for enhanced mobility channels in both NMOS and PMOS devices, as well as the elevated source/drain structure, offer promise for the continued development of higher-speed CMOS devices. Optoelectronics applications using Si1−xGex superlattices appear to be feasible and lower-cost pseudo-substrates for GaAs solar cells may indeed be possible. The deposition of Si1−xGex and Si1−xGex:C materials can be conveniently carried out in production load-locked single-wafer epi reactors. The throughputs of these processes are highly dependent upon the details of the film specification as well as the thermal budget constraints, but can often exceed seven wafers per hour, regardless of the wafer size. A complete epi process recipe for a Si1−xGex HBT has been provided as a reference point for process development. Modifications to this recipe for the growth of a graded Ge content DFT have been presented. No more excuses, it's time to grow the films.
NH3 and (NH2)1− as ligands in yttrium metallocene chemistry

(C5Me5)2Y(C3H5)(THF) reacts with ammonia in THF to form the first crystallographically-characterized rare-earth metal complex with a terminal (NH2)1- ligand, (C5Me5)2Y(NH2)(THF), 1. Complex 1 can be protonated with [HNEt3][BPh4] to form [(C5Me5)2Y(NH3)(THF)][BPh4], 2. Both complexes were characterized by X-ray crystallography which allowed a comparison of the Y-NH2 bond length, 2.226(2) A, with an Y-NH3 bond length, 2.476(2) A, in analogous coordination environments. Reactions of 2 with NaN3 and acetone produced the known complexes [(C5Me5)2YN3]x and [(C5Me5)2Y(OCMe2)2][BPh4], respectively, suggesting that the ammonia moiety in 2 functions as a displaceable solvate like THF.
Tractable semi-supervised learning of complex structured prediction models

Semi-supervised learning has been widely studied in the literature. However, most previous works assume that the output structure is simple enough to allow the direct use of tractable inference/learning algorithms (e.g., binary label or linear chain). Therefore, these methods cannot be applied to problems with complex structure. In this paper, we propose an approximate semi-supervised learning method that uses piecewise training for estimating the model weights and a dual decomposition approach for solving the inference problem of finding the labels of unlabeled data subject to domain specific constraints. This allows us to extend semi-supervised learning to general structured prediction problems. As an example, we apply this approach to the problem of multi-label classification (a fully connected pairwise Markov random field). Experimental results on benchmark data show that, in spite of using approximations, the approach is effective and yields good improvements in generalization performance over the plain supervised method. In addition, we demonstrate that our inference engine can be applied to other semi-supervised learning frameworks, and extends them to solve problems with complex structure.
Hypnosis: Complications--Issustrative Clinical Example

Although hypnosis has received an ever greater utilization in forensic psychiatry, growing opposition seems to be mounting. The opposition is both legal and psychiatric/psychological. The conflictual tension and attention is indicated by the fact that an entire issue of The International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, Vol. 27, 1979, has been devoted to this conflict. Another professional journal, The American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, has been publishing an increasing number of articles on forensic hypnosis. A new association, founded in 1976, The Society for Investigative and Forensic Hypnosis, is now active and publishes its own journal.
Investigation into Polyurethane at Varying Dose Rates of Ionizing Radiation for Clinical Application

Polyurethanes (PUs) are commonly used materials for medical devices. These devices are exposed repeatedly to radiation when patients undergo radiotherapy treatments. It has been found that peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) and central venous catheters (CVCs) fail at an increased rate (14.7% and 8.8%, respectively) when radiated. Currently, little research is available on increased failure seen in conjunction with radiation, but complex in vivo environments within a human patient make it difficult to isolate effects of individual variables. This research investigated effects of radiation in an aqueous environment to determine whether radiation combined with a mimicked in vivo environment is sufficient to change PU devices. The following dose rates were used in this study: 3.2 Gy·min−1, 4.5 Gy·min−1, 44 Gy·min−1, and 833 Gy·min−1. Samples were characterized in four main ways: cellular response, physical changes, chemical changes, and mechanical changes. Results reveal normal cellular response at all dose rates, indicating dose rate does not alter cellular adhesion or proliferation, and biocompatibility of the material is not being altered. Results from physical, chemical, and mechanical effects confirm that varying dose rates alone do not initiate material changes, which negates the hypothesis that varying dose rates of radiation contribute to the complications in PICC and CVCs.
Cell Culture Bioprocess Technology: Biologics and Beyond

Scientists have been growing vertebrate cells in culture for over a century. Initially, this cell culture involved placing tissues isolated from animals in a nutrient solution for observation. Eventually, some cells grew out from the tissue explant and began to form cell layers. Over the years, scientists developed a better understanding of the nutritional requirements of cells, established methods to isolate them from tissues and to propagate them, and acquired the ability to use them as tools for conducting research to develop new knowledge on cells and organisms. Ultimately, we learned ways to use them to produce vaccines and medicines.
PedPIV: Pedestrian Velocity Extraction From Particle Image Velocimetry

The analysis of velocities from high-density pedestrian events may provide more information on pedestrian flow dynamics. A framework based on particle image velocimetry (PIV)—a technique commonly used in experimental fluid dynamics—has been developed to evaluate the pedestrian velocities from high-density pedestrian events. The framework takes a sequence of two or more images from a regular closed-circuit television camera and obtains the flow properties (speed, direction) of the pedestrians. A detailed analysis has been done in both the qualitative and quantitative aspects of adapting PIV to pedestrian flow. An investigation through the use of the fundamental diagram and real-time extraction of crowd velocities is also presented and discussed. The proposed PIV-based framework enables on-the-spot analysis of pedestrian flow via velocity extraction in a reliable, automated manner.
Green Infrastructure and the Hidden Politics of Urban Stormwater Governance in a Postindustrial City

Infrastructure tells a material story of ongoing challenges in cities, reflecting the diverse, normative desires of different communities. In this article we examine the introduction of green infra...
Exploring science-and-technology-led innovation: a cross-country study

Countries can enhance endogenous innovation using multifaceted incentives for science and technology indicators. We explore country-level innovation using OECD data for research and development (R&D), patents, and exports. We deploy a dual methodology of descriptive visualization and panel regression analysis. Our results highlight industry variances in R&D spending. As a nation develops, governmental expenditure on R&D decreases, and businesses take on an increasing role to fill the gap, increasing local innovation. Our portfolio of local versus foreign resident ownership of patents highlights implications for taxation/innovation policies. Countries with high foreign ownership of patents have low tax revenues due to the lack of associated costs with, and mobility of income from, patents. We call on these countries to devise targeted policies encouraging local patent ownership. Policy makers should also recognize factors influencing high-technology exports for innovation. Lastly, we call on countries to reinstate horizontal and vertical policies, and design national innovation ecosystems that integrate disparate policies in an effort to drive economic growth through innovation.
The Effects of Child Protective Services and Juvenile Justice System Involvement on Academic Outcomes: Gender and Racial Differences:

The primary aim of this study was to examine gender and racial differences in the association between system involvement types (i.e., child protective services [CPS] only, juvenile justice system o...
Active Management in Real Estate Mutual Funds

This paper examines active management in real estate mutual funds (REMFs). The REMF industry has expanded as the underlying REIT industry has developed over time, but the number of REMFs experienced a sharp decline following the global financial crisis. The likelihood of termination is greater for smaller funds and funds with higher expense ratios. Using various measures of active management (Fund R2, Active Share, Property-Type Concentration Index, and Return Gap), we observe that real estate fund managers have become less active over time. In contrast to the findings for more broadly diversified equity funds, these activeness measures do not explain the future performance of REMFs. To the extent that geographic diversification measures activeness, we find no evidence that the performance of REMFs holding geographically diversified portfolios differs from the performance of REMFs with concentrated portfolios. Overall, our findings shed light on the uniqueness of REMFs relative to diversified equity mutual funds.
Modeling the Maintenance Time Considering the Experience of the Technicians

Typically, maintaining a machine requires two different distinct tasks: to select which components to focus their attention; and the subsequent task is to check, repair or replace the selected components. For both tasks, the experience of technicians plays a critical role. An experienced technician is likely to select fewer components and requires less time for the subsequent task compared to an inexperienced technician. As a result, the maintenance time will be varied depending on the experience of the technicians. Extant research for maintenance has predominantly used exponential distribution family for modeling primarily because of its analytical tractability but at the cost of fidelity and inability to capture important characteristics such as technicians’ experience. With the growing adoption of networked sensors based on Internet of Things (IoT), big data, and real-time machinery diagnostics using artificial intelligence it is imperative to develop models with better fidelity for maintenance operations. Therefore, in this paper, we explore a model based on using the negative-hyper geometric distribution for maintenance time that varies based on the technicians’ experience. Our proposed approach requires more inputs such as (1) number of components, (2) number of components not in working state (3) technician’s experience level, and (4) time to fix a component based on the technicians’ experience. For instance, input for (2) could be obtained from IoT sensors and diagnostics. We study the efficacy of the proposed model using computer simulations and statistically characterize the possible impact of technician experience on the parameters of the maintenance distribution.
Abnormalities of Bone Density

Radiographs can evaluate for increased or decreased bone density, showing increased or decreased whiteness, respectively. Bone density changes can be focal or diffuse. Processes such as osteoporosis can cause decreased bone density, while others such as metastatic prostate cancer can cause increased bone density.
The Challenge of Multimedia Networking

Article reviewing texts that examine both the promise and peril of developing networked multimedia systems.
Reducing Missed Opportunities for Human Papillomavirus Vaccination in School-Based Health Centers: Impact of an Intervention

Abstract OBJECTIVE Human papillomavirus (HPV) immunization rates among US adolescents are low. Missed opportunities (MOs) for HPV vaccination are common. School based-health centers (SBHCs) have potential to boost HPV vaccination, but their role in addressing MOs has not been examined. METHODS We implemented a multicomponent intervention, consisting of three immunization process workflow modifications combined with provider performance feedback, in two Los Angeles area SBHCs and conducted a pre/post evaluation of MOs. Our primary outcome was SBHC-based MOs for HPV vaccination during all visits, including visits for confidential reproductive health care (i.e., confidential visits). Secondary outcomes were MOs for meningococcal (MenACWY) and influenza vaccination during visits for non-confidential care. RESULTS MOs for HPV vaccination decreased during all visit types from the baseline to the intervention period (82.3% to 46.1%; adjusted risk ratio (RR)=0.558, p CONCLUSIONS A pragmatic, multicomponent SBHC intervention reduced MOs for HPV vaccination during all visit types. MOs for MenACWY and influenza vaccination also decreased during non-confidential visits. Findings suggest that practice-level improvements in SBHCs can improve delivery of HPV and other adolescent vaccines.