cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Educating Expelled Students after No Child Left Behind: Mending an Incentive Structure that Discourages Alternate Education and Reinstatement

Expelled students have intense educational needs, yet few states protect their rights to alternative education during the period of expulsion or reinstatement to mainstream education following the period of expulsion. Instead of strengthening those rights, the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) creates an incentive structure that encourages the exclusion of expelled students from all access to educational opportunity.The lack of educational access for expelled students is a serious concern. Students of color are expelled at rates that far exceed their representation in the school population. As a result, denying expelled students access to education exacerbates the equitable harms caused by racial disparities in the application of school discipline and widens the achievement gaps caused by discrimination and inequality in the school system. Moreover, the widespread adoption of zero tolerance policies has created a situation in which American public schools expel tens of thousands of students each year, often for minor, first-time offenses. Depriving these students of access to education has a devastating impact on their lives, and ultimately leads to public expenditures that far exceed the cost of public education.This Comment examines legal strategies for counteracting NCLB's exclusionary incentives and expanding expelled students' access to education. Changes to the implementation of the NCLB accountability framework could change the incentive structure from the top, while litigation challenging exclusion at the school level could change the incentive structure from the bottom. In addition, strengthening the educational guarantees provided by the state constitutions could close the loopholes through which too many expelled students are deprived of educational opportunity.
Support vector machine classification of suspect powders using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) spectral data

Classification of suspect powders, by using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) spectra, to determine if they could contain Bacillus anthracis spores is difficult because of the variability in their composition and the variability typically associated with LIBS analysis. A method that builds a support vector machine classification model for such spectra relying on the known elemental composition of the Bacillus spores was developed. A wavelet transformation was incorporated in this method to allow for possible thresholding or standardization, then a linear model technique using the known elemental structure of the spores was incorporated for dimension reduction, and a support vector machine approach was employed for the final classification of the substance. The method was applied to real data produced from an LIBS device. Several methods used to test the predictive performance of the classification model revealed promising results. Published 2012. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Toward a better understanding of direct vertebral rotation for AIS surgery: development of a multisegmental biomechanical model and factors affecting correction.

Abstract Background context The direct vertebral rotation (DVR) technique involves vertebral manipulation by the application of force in the transverse plane using a pedicle screw as the anchor point. The biomechanics of this technique has not been well studied, and the applied derotation force may affect cosmetic outcome and potential complications. Purpose The purpose of the study was to develop an in vitro biomechanical model replicating DVR and examine the effects of screw placement, derotation direction, and segmental versus en bloc rotation on correction. Study design This study is based on a cadaveric spine model examining the biomechanics of DVR. Methods Short three vertebral segments were dissected from thoracolumbar cadaveric spines (T5–L4). Each pedicle of the central vertebra received a unicortical, bicortical, or in-out-in screw. Unconstrained biomechanical tests were performed in an axial rotation (medial and lateral directions) mimicking DVR surgery. Nondestructive tests were performed examining peak force and rotational stiffness with/without a contralateral rod. A destructive failure test was performed on each pedicle screw with a contralateral rod connecting via the contralateral pedicle screw. Repeated-measures analysis of variance and post hoc Student t tests were used to detect significance with screw placement and loading direction as main factors. Results Without the contralateral rod, the rotation direction was significant (p=.004, medial stiffness more than lateral). With the contralateral rod, in-out-in placement demonstrated lower stiffness than unicortical or bicortical screws (p=.009), and the rotation direction was significant (p=.003, medial stiffness more than lateral). There was no interaction effect between main factors. Peak force with and without a contralateral rod resulted in a similar pattern of significance as stiffness. Destructive failure tests showed that the placement was significant (p Conclusions The biomechanical characteristics of DVR are dependent on the derotation direction and screw placement. Correction for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis can be attempted irrespective of the type of pedicle screw placement, more efficiently if performing derotation maneuvers en bloc on bicortical screws in the medial direction.
Medial preoptic and anterior hypothalamic lesions: Influences on aggressive behavior in female hamsters

Abstract Bilateral radio-frequency lesions in the medial preoptic area (MPOA) were found to reduce aggressiveness and to increase the incidence of submissive responding in female hamsters that were paired against other females. The reduced aggressiveness of females with MPOA lesions appeared to be relatively independent of their hormonal state, since ovariectomy and subsequent replacement therapy with 200 μg a day of testosterone propionate (TP) had no influence on the low levels of aggression exhibited by these females. In contrast to females with lesions in the MPOA, females with lesions in anterior hypothalamus (AHA) exhibited increased aggressiveness in the postoperative tests preceding ovariectomy. Ovariectomy reduced the frequency with which AHA-lesioned females exhibited fights, attack-chase sequences, and low intensity aggressive acts, and TP injections failed to reinstate precastration levels of these behaviors.
Efficient sparse matrix-matrix multiplication on heterogeneous high performance systems

The efficient implementation of sparse matrixmatrix multiplications on high performance parallel machines poses several challenges: large size of input matrices, compressed representation, density of the output matrices, partitioning and load balancing of matrices that present parts with large differences in density and, thus, in computation times. In this paper we show how, starting from the requirements of such application, we developed a framework that allows its efficient implementation on heterogeneous clusters. We introduce a task based programming model and a runtime supported execution model which provides dynamic load balancing on clusters composed by CPUs and GPUs, allowing better utilization of the system while easing the handling of sparse matrices. The results show that our solution, which co-designs the application together with the programming model and the runtime system, is able to obtain significant speedups due to a more effective load balancing with respect to other programming approaches.
Split distribution method for constructing confidence intervals for simulation output analyses

A new procedure to construct a confidence interval for the mean of a simulated process is proposed. The new procedure uses approximate partial variance and it is capable of adjusting itself to compensate for the skewness of the underlying population. A Monte Carlo experiment compares the proposed procedure with some other procedures using different sample sizes and underlying distributions. The result shows that the proposed procedure generally provides a higher probability of coverage with a shorter confidence interval width than the other procedures.
Auditory brainstem evoked responses in autistic children

Previous studies have implicated a brainstem dysfunction in the syndrome of autism. This study matched six autistic children with six normal children by age and sex to evaluate brainstem evoked response (BSER) to auditory stimuli. An evaluation of pure tone audiometric threshold showed no evidence of impairment; however, the electrophysiologic responses differed for the autistic and control groups. The BSER of the autistic children was remarkable for showing increased latency and markedly increased variability. The findings from this study add additional evidence of a brainstem dysfunction in autistic children, while the electrophysiologic variability supports the hypothesis of perceptual inconstancy.
Bounds for the atomic electronic density: The near nuclear region

Some upper bound estimates for the atomic electron density are derived using Block’s inequality. A rough bound for the density is obtained in terms of the number of electrons, the nuclear charge, and the electronic energy. The bounds derived in this work are tested for some members of the helium isoelectronic series using electronic densities derived from 20 term Hylleraas type wave functions. A comparison is also made with some previously derived upper bound estimates for the electronic density. The bounds presented do not diverge in the near nuclear region like r−n, a feature which characterizes presently available bounds.
The utility of the myers-briggs perspective in couples counseling: A clinical framework

Abstract This paper outlines a step-by-step clinical framework for using the Myers-Briggs personality preferences in couples therapy. The paper also discusses how a Myers-Briggs perspective can be useful in facilitating couple communication.
The role and responsibility of the consultant

This paper examines the interaction that occurs between the computer consultant and his or her client, factors that affect that interaction, the role of the consultant in the research university, the consultant's personal responsibility in the interaction and ways to create change. The paper utilizes the method of institutional ethnography suggested by Dorothy Smith: place the consultant-client interaction within the organization of the research university.The paper describes how the consulting process works beginning from personal experiences of consultant and client and then places the interaction in the larger context of the university, academic training and research practices. The routinization of research separates it into many functions performed by people who may not understand the intended use of the research. The consultant performs two pieces of the research function — training clients to use the computer and helping them deal with any problems. In the course of our work, we as consultants encounter contradictions in the university system that create our individual feelings of inadequacy and burnout. We also may find it difficult to accept our personal responsibility for the uses made of the research in which we participate. Understanding our work and its place in the university is the first step toward creating change. This understanding can be increased by breaking our isolation and talking to each other about problems we encounter as consultants, by examining the ideology we participate in creating and by integrating our professional expertise with our desire to assist our clients. We need not blame ourselves for the shortcomings of the system. Changing the way we think about our world and our work is a way of changing our world and our work.
Management of mediastinal relapse after treatment with stereotactic body radiotherapy or accelerated hypofractionated radiotherapy for stage I/II non-small-cell lung cancer.

®Purpose/Objective(s): Regional failures occur in up to 15% of patients treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for stage I/II lung cancer. This report focuses on the management of the unique scenario of isolated regional failures. Methods: Patients treated initially with SBRT or accelerated hypofractionated radiotherapy were screened for curative intent treatment of isolated mediastinal failures (IMFs). Local control, regional control, progression-free survival, and distant control were estimated from the date of salvage treatment using the Kaplan–Meier method. Results: Among 160 patients treated from 2002 to 2012, 12 suffered IMF and were amenable to salvage treatment. The median interval between treatments was 16 months (2–57 mo). Median salvage dose was 66 Gy (60–70 Gy). With a median follow-up of 10 months, the median overall survival was 15 months (95% confidence interval, 5.8–37 mo). When estimated from original treatment, the median overall survival was 38 months (95% confidence interval, 17–71 mo). No subsequent regional failures occurred. Distant failure was the predominant mode of relapse following salvage for IMF with a 2-year distant control rate of 38%. At the time of this analysis, three patients have died without recurrence while four are alive and no evidence of disease. High-grade toxicity was uncommon. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is first analysis of salvage mediastinal radiation after SBRT or accelerated hypofractionated radiotherapy in lung cancer. Outcomes appear similar to stage III disease at presentation. Distant failures were common, suggesting a role for concurrent or sequential chemotherapy. A standard full course of external beam radiotherapy is advisable in this unique clinical scenario.
Fear of Success and Causal Attributions of Success and Failure in High School and College Students

Summary College males and females (N = 87) exhibited more Fear of Success (FOS) imagery to both gender-appropriate and gender-inappropriate stimulus cues than high school males and females (N = 88). No overall sex differences in incidence of FOS were observed. The gender-inappropriate male cue (Tom in nursing school) elicited more FOS than the gender-inappropriate female cue (Diane as law student) from college, but not from high school subjects. Subjects did not exhibit significantly more FOS to the gender-inappropriate female cue than to the gender-appropriate cue (Diane in nursing school). The presence of FOS to same-sex cues significantly affected attributions of success and failure on an anagrams task for college and high school males and females. The differences in attributions between males and females with FOS are interpreted in terms of maintaining self-concepts consistent with cultural prescriptions.
Organizational control: Monitoring ongoing programs

All programs contain formal or informal monitoring functions which influence organizational learning and development.
Musculoskeletal manifestations of Sanfilippo Syndrome (mucopolysaccharidosis type III).

Background The most pronounced symptom in mucopolysaccharidosis type III (MPS III, Sanfilippo Syndrome) is the severe neurocognitive deterioration of the central nervous system. The effects of MPS III on the musculoskeletal system are less severe than those caused by other forms of MPS, however, it is our experience that many families seek orthopaedic attention for perceived musculoskeletal discomfort, particularly about the hip and spine. The purpose of this study is to report musculoskeletal findings in a case series of patients with MPS III. Methods This study represents a retrospective case series of all records available from 2 institutions on patients with MPS III. Chart and radiographic review was performed and outcomes tabulated. Our hypotheses are: (1) Musculoskeletal abnormalities are prevalent in children with MPS III and (2) Musculoskeletal deformities in children with MPS III may require surgical intervention. Results Eighteen patients were identified (10 female and 8 male) with an average age of 10.3 years. Three had significant scoliosis (21 to 99 degrees) and 2 others had L1 hypoplasia. Four patients had osteonecrosis of the femoral heads. One patient required a carpal tunnel release, and another a trigger thumb release. There were no cases of cervical instability. Conclusions In our study with these patients, we have observed several unreported musculoskeletal manifestations of MPS III. Osteonecrosis of the hips can be a source of severe discomfort for these children. Although uncommon, operative intervention for orthopaedic conditions is sometimes warranted. Operative indications in this cohort include progressive scoliosis of large magnitude, carpal tunnel syndrome, and trigger digits. Level of evidence Level IV; case series.
Working with Machines: The Impact of Algorithmic and Data-Driven Management on Human Workers

Software algorithms are changing how people work in an ever-growing number of fields, managing distributed human workers at a large scale. In these work settings, human jobs are assigned, optimized, and evaluated through algorithms and tracked data. We explore the impact of this algorithmic, data-driven management on human workers and work practices in the context of Uber and Lyft, new ridesharing services. Our findings from a qualitative study describe how drivers responded when algorithms assigned work, provided informational support, and evaluated their performance, and how drivers used online forums to socially make sense of the algorithm features. Implications and future work are discussed.
Citation generators : Generating bibliographies for the next generation

Librarians are frequently consulted about proper citation formats and support the use of PC-based personal bibliographic citation management programs, such as EndNote, often used by faculty and graduate students. Recently, free or inexpensive Web-based tools have been developed that create citations and format bibliographies. An analysis of citations generated by these programs shows that they are as accurate as EndNote and offer some advantages to undergraduates, but that some knowledge of proper citation formats is necessary to use these programs effectively.
Tetrakis­(tetra­hydro­furan‐κO)­lithium mer‐tris­(carbazolyl‐κN)‐trans‐di­chloro(tetra­hydro­furan‐κO)­zirconate

In the title compound, [Li(C4H8O)4][ZrCl2(C12H8N)3(C4H8O)], the environment of the Zr atom is pseudo-octahedral, with the three carbazolyl ligands in a mer configuration. The counter-ion of the zirconium complex is composed of an Li atom surrounded by four tetra­hydro­furan (THF) mol­ecules. The THF mol­ecule attached to the Zr atom is disordered over two sites, as are two of the THF mol­ecules in the lithium moiety. All bond distances and angles are consistent with those in complexes with similar structural entities. The Zr—N bond distances are 2.2185 (18) and 2.167 (3) A.
The first three years after foster care: A longitudinal look at the adaptation of 16 youth to emerging adulthood

Abstract Sixteen former foster youth were followed for 3 years to examine their adaptation to emerging adulthood. Youth were classified on their adaptation according to 2 concepts, Connectedness and Risks . Connectedness refers to engagement with the adult world through work, schooling, marriage, and parenthood. Risks refer to problems with substance abuse, financial difficulties, and mental health problems that would hinder engagement with the adult world. All of the youth maintained at least one adult connection, but only 6 youth did not have a risk at the final interview. Three years after discharge 50% of the respondents had a drug and/or alcohol problem, and had neither savings nor health insurance. Despite many problems the post foster care period was marked by much resilience as most struggled to remain independent, and continue their schooling. Factors which facilitated successful adaptations were: a period of transitional residence after foster care, good support systems including family and former social workers, and a commitment to further education.
Nutrient Intake, Body Mass Index, And Activity Level of Caucasian and African-American University Women

Abstract Chronic disease situations have been found to occur in African-American women at a much higher rate than Caucasian women of similar socio-economic backgrounds. This research obtained and compared data on nutrient intake, exercise habits, and body mass index (BMI) for 219 Caucasian and 143 African-American university women. It was hypothesized that a significant difference between the two groups might be a potential early indicator as to why there is a higher incidence of chronic disease situations amongst African-American women. An activity and food consumption questionnaire was used to survey the participants. Height and weight was taken for all participants and used to determine BMI. Dietary recalls were analyzed with the Nutritionist TV to obtain mean intakes of 10 nutrients and the six groups of the Food Guide Pyramid. Sample T-tests were used to determine if the two groups were different (or any nutrients, exercise level, or BMI.) Results found that both groups had higher than recommended intake of energy, total fat, saturated fat, protein, and sodium. African-American women had significantly higher intakes for all these nutrients. Based on BMI, 20% of the Caucasians and 45% of the African-Americans were obese. Caucasian female university students obtain significantly more exercise than African-American university women.
A BEM/FEM Framework for Simulation of a Plastic Workpiece Deformed by an Elastic Tool

A solution methodology is developed for the simulation of a plastic workpiece deformed by a compliant tool. The solution for elastic tool displacements is based on the Boundary Element Method (BEM) ; the viscoplastic response of the workpiece is computed using the Finite Element Method (FEM). At each time increment, tool deflections are recomputed from the elastic solution based on surface tractions developed in the previous converged solution for the viscoplastic response of the workpiece material. Tool stresses may be recovered at any point in the simulation using the BEM solution. The updated tool geometry and motion correspondingly modify the kinematic contact constraint applied in the viscoplastic solution over the subsequent time step. Application of this methodology is demonstrated for simulation ofa plane strain forging operation.
Further experience with thromboangiitis obliterans in women.

Abstract Twenty-five cases of thromboangiitis obliterans in women are presented. The greater tendency for the disease to manifest itself in the hands of women is pointed out. The differential diagnosis between Raynaud's disease and thromboangiitis obliterans is discussed. The etiological relationship of thromboangiitis obliterans to the use of tobacco is again demonstrated.
Phenology of eelgrass, Zostera marina L., along latitudinal gradients in North America

Eelgrass, Zostera marina L., was collected monthly from 1976 to 1979 and its phenology compared in the distributional range on both coastlines of North America. Each of three reproductive phenophases (initial appearance of macroscopically visible flower buds, initial anthesis, initial appearance of visible fruits) differed significantly among the sites in their dates of occurrence. Among the sites, flowering at the same latitude was later in the Atlantic than in the Pacific and flowering along a latitudinal gradient occurred increasingly later at more northern latitudes in the Atlantic than in the Pacific. Although the reproductive periodicity probably is controlled primarily by water temperature at the different sites, the variation in timing at the same latitude among Pacific and Atlantic sites indicates that Z. marina may include genotypes with different temperature requirements that are selectively adapted to different habitats along the latitudinal gradients.
Combining ray-trace and diffraction analysis: A design example

An example is presented of using a combined ray trace and diffraction modeling code to simulate effects of objective-lens tilt in an optical data storage device. In some cases, neither ray-trace analysis nor diffraction analysis can give an adequate description of an optical system. The designer that is faced with the problem of analyzing such a system is forced to use a ray-trace program to determine aberrations in the exit pupil and then introduce aberration coefficients into a diffraction model that simulate the propagation. This approach was found rather awkward, especially if complicated aberrations are present. Our approach is to integrate a diffraction analysis and a ray-trace description of an optical path into one program. Our design is taken from a data storage application, where we must analyze the effects of objective-lens tilt.
Four-Dimensional Strings

It has been a puzzle to explain why the world we live in has four space-time dimensions. In recent years, unified superstring models have had many successes in describing within one theory the fundamental interactions of the strong, weak and electromagnetic forces of elementary particle physics, as well as providing the most ambitious approach to date for formulating a quantum theory of gravity.1
Hume and the problem of induction

Critique de l'argument developpe par D. C. Stove contre le scepticisme inductif de Hume. Examinant le traitement des arguments probables par Hume, et rejetant les interpretations de l'argument probabiliste qui ne s'appuient que sur le probleme de leur validite, l'A. montre que le scepticisme inductif de Hume ne peut etre compris qu'a la lumiere de l'argument general du «Traite de la nature humaine» qui critique les principes fondationnels de la metaphysique rationaliste et de ses presupposes concernant notre croyance dans les conclusions des arguments tires de l'experience
Rejection efficiency of water quality parameters by reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membranes.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of reserve osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) membranes, under various solution chemistries, on water quality. The effects of organic carbon, divalent and monovalent cations, bacteria, and permeate drag on the rejection efficiencies of three different membranes were investigated through a series of laboratory bench-scale experiments. Quantitative models were successfully developed to predict the rejection of turbidity, divalent and monovalent cations, ultraviolet absorbance at 253.7 nm (UV254), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) by membrane filtration. It was found that mechanical sieving (measured as molecular weight cutoff, MWCO) and electrostatic interactions were the most significant parameters since they were found to be important in nearly all models developed. For negatively charged membranes, under high ionic strength solution environments that repress electrostatic interaction between charged compounds and membranes, passage of compounds was mainly a function of size exclusion (i.e. MWCO). Further, of the feedwater parameters tested, bacteria concentration was observed to be the most significant influence on UV254, divalent cation and monovalent cation rejections. The developed models revealed that interactions between feedwater composition and membrane properties impacted the rejection efficiency of membranes as significantly as water composition and membrane properties individually.
High-performance and energy-efficient mobile web browsing on big/little systems

Internet web browsing has reached a critical tipping point. Increasingly, users rely more on mobile web browsers to access the Internet than desktop browsers. Meanwhile, webpages over the past decade have grown in complexity by more than tenfold. The fast penetration of mobile browsing and everricher webpages implies a growing need for high-performance mobile devices in the future to ensure continued end-user browsing experience. Failing to deliver webpages meeting hard cut-off constraints could directly translate to webpage abandonment or, for e-commerce websites, great revenue loss. However, mobile devices' limited battery capacity limits the degree of performance that mobile web browsing can achieve. In this paper, we demonstrate the benefits of heterogeneous systems with big/little cores each with different frequencies to achieve the ideal trade-off between high performance and energy efficiency. Through detailed characterizations of different webpage primitives based on the hottest 5,000 webpages, we build statistical inference models that estimate webpage load time and energy consumption. We show that leveraging such predictive models lets us identify and schedule webpages using the ideal core and frequency configuration that minimizes energy consumption while still meeting stringent cut-off constraints. Real hardware and software evaluations show that our scheduling scheme achieves 83.0% energy savings, while only violating the cut-off latency for 4.1% more webpages as compared with a performance-oriented hardware strategy. Against a more intelligent, OS-driven, dynamic voltage and frequency scaling scheme, it achieves 8.6% energy savings and 4.0% performance improvement simultaneously.
Properties of alkylbenzimidazoles for CO 2 and SO 2 capture and comparisons to ionic liquids

To date, few reports have been concerned with the physical properties of the liquid phases of imidazoles and benzimidazoles-potential starting materials for a great number of ionic liquids. Prior research has indicated that alkylimidazole solvents exhibit different, and potentially advantageous physical properties, when compared to corresponding imidazolium-based ionic liquids. Given that even the most fundamental physical properties of alkylimidazole solvents have only recently been reported, there is still a lack of data for other relevant imidazole derivatives, including benzimidazoles. In this work, we have synthesized a series of eight 1-n-alkylbenzimidazoles, with chain lengths ranging from ethyl to dodecyl, all of which exist as neat liquids at ambient temperature. Their densities and viscosities have been determined as functions of both temperature and molecular weight. Alkylbenzimidazoles have been found to exhibit viscosities that are more similar to imidazolium-based ILs than alkylimidazoles, owed to a large contribution to viscosity from the presence of a fused ring system. Solubilities of CO2 and SO2, two species of concern in the emission of coal-fired power generation, were determined for selected alkylbenzimidazoles to understand what effects a fused ring system might have on gas solubility. For both gases, alkylbenzimidazoles were determined to experience physical, non-chemically reactive, interactions. The solubility of CO2 in alkylbenzimidazoles is 10%–30% less than observed for corresponding ILs and alkylimidazoles. 1-butylbenzimidazole was found to readily absorb at least 0.333 gram SO2 per gram at low pressure and ambient temperature, which could be readily desorbed under an N2 flush, a behavior more similar to imidazolium-based ILs than alkylimidazoles. Thus, we find that as solvents for gas separations, benzimidazoles share characteristics with both ILs and alkylimidazoles.
Intermittent token reinforcement and response maintenance in extinction

Two male adult retardates, who participated in a token economy in asheltered workshop setting, were reinforced for interacting socially with peers. In a reversal design, reinforcement was alternated with baseline periods. The control of token reinforcement was demonstrated as removal of the contingency resulted in a dramatic decrease in social interactions for both subjects. Subsequently, one subject received continuous and the other subject intermittent token reinforcement for social interactions. The effect of these schedules was evident in a final reversal phase when token reinforcement was again withdrawn. The subject who previously received intermittent reinforcement continued to interact socially with peers, whereas the subject who previously received continuous reinforcement did not. The implications of these results for developing socially relevant behaviors and programming response maintenance are discussed briefly.
Non-linear spinor equations with localized solutions

A method is outlined for finding non-linear spinor field equations which have stationary, localized solutions (solitons or droplets) of definite spin and parity.
Use of Delphi methods in higher education

Abstract This paper is concerned with describing the principal uses of the Delphi method in higher education. These areas of use are found to be (1) searching out goals and objectives, (2) campus and curriculum planning, and (3) development of evaluation criteria. Important to understanding the use of Delphi in a higher education setting are the methodological adaptations that have been employed. Delphi as used in technological forecasting requires modification when used in the generation and assessment of goals. Three principal problems in methodology are examined here. They are (1) selection of the panel, (2) the character of round one and (3) the consequences of feedback.
Probability of failure analysis and design using an efficient sequential sampling approach

Paper submitted to the AIAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control Conference held at Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, National Harbor (Maryland), 13-17 of January 2014.
The IRIS network site at the Wilcox Solar Observatory

The Wilcox Solar Observatory at Stanford University houses one of the International Research on the Interior of the Sun (IRIS) network observing stations. The instrument has observed the global oscillations of the Sun continually since it was installed in August 1987. Each site and instrument are different; here we report the details unique to the Stanford site.
Voltage dependence of bilayer membrane capacitance

Abstract The change in capacitance of cholesterol-hexadecyltrimethylammonium bilayer membranes upon application of relatively high dc and ac potentials was measured as a function of frequency. Capacitance increases proportional to the square of voltage were observed (0.5–1% for 100 mV dc). The amplitude of the ac component of the capacitance variation decreased with frequency until a break frequency was reached, above which the capacitance response was constant at a value about two orders of magnitude lower than the dc response. By comparison with the elastic response of the membrane and border, it was concluded the capacitance response at higher frequency was due to bilayer thickness decrease with voltage (electrostriction) while the lower frequency response was associated with a bilayer area increase. Agreement was obtained between the measured electrostriction and that calculated from membrane elasticity. Area increases with voltage calculated assuming border shrinkage as a result of an increase in contact angle were in order of magnitude agreement with the observed dc response. The effects of lenses and bowed membranes are discussed.
A versatile maze for learning and geotaxic selection inDrosophila melanogaster

Behavior geneticists have long sought to display learning in the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), but previous research efforts have proven problematic. The following describes a maze apparatus and a procedural technique that have produced positive results in learning tasks with negative geotaxis flies. The Plexiglas maze is inexpensive to construct and offers a functional versatility that makes it adaptable to many different experimental applications.
On particle interactions with target materials of different mechanical properties in a long specimen Coriolis slurry erosion tester

The Coriolis tester, and especially its long specimen version, simulates well the slurry flow conditions in pumps, cyclones, pipes, etc. and provides a slurry erosion test mode that is closest to having well-defined particle-target impingement conditions. The predominance of glancing angle slurry impingement ensures that only a fraction of erodent particles has a normal component of impact velocity sufficient to cause plastic deformation, and this provides great sensitivity in discriminating between the erosion resistance of different target materials. The present paper demonstrates that this fraction is strongly influenced by target material mechanical properties. Experimental results and theoretical calculations of erodent particle interactions on soft 1018 steel and hard sintered WC10Ni specimens show that wear along the full specimen length is due mainly to impact between the erodent and target surface.
Great expectations: historical perspectives on genetic breast cancer testing.

Women who test positive for a genetic breast cancer marker may have more than a 50% chance of developing the disease. Although past screening technologies have sought to identify actual breast cancers, as opposed to predisposition, the history of screening may help predict the societal response to genetic testing. For decades, educational messages have encouraged women to find breast cancers as early as possible. Such messages have fostered the popular assumption that immediately discovered and treated breast cancers are necessarily more curable. Research, however, has shown that screening improves the prognosis of some--but not all--breast cancers, and also that it may lead to unnecessary interventions. The dichotomy between the advertised value of early detection and its actual utility has caused particular controversy in the United States, where the cultural climate emphasizes the importance of obtaining all possible medical information and acting on it. Early detection has probably helped to lower ove...
Effect of Anion on Gas Separation Performance of Polymer−Room-Temperature Ionic Liquid Composite Membranes

Composite gas separation membranes were fabricated by photopolymerization of a room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) monomer in the presence of 20 mol % of nonpolymerizable RTILs with various anions. The solid, composite membranes contained polymer-bound cations, “free” cations, and “free” anions. The composite materials exhibit no phase separation between these components. The permeabilities of CO2, N2, and CH4 in these poly(RTIL)−RTIL composites were observed to increase by 2−5 times relative to those in the neat poly(RTIL) without a “free” RTIL component. These largely increased permeabilities resulted in CO2/N2 and CO2/CH4 ideal separation selectivities that were only slightly diminished relative to the poly(RTIL) without a “free” RTIL. When viewed on “Robeson plots”, poly(RTIL)−RTIL composites are shown to be more favorable for CO2/N2 separation than CO2/CH4. Poly(RTIL)−RTIL composites are highly tunable materials with excellent promise as gas separation membranes.
Prospective Evaluation of Prostate Specific Antigen and Prostate Specific Antigen Density in the Detection of Nonpalpable and Stage T1C Carcinoma of the Prostate

AbstractPurpose: We evaluated prospectively prostate specific antigen (PSA) and prostate specific antigen density in the detection of prostate cancer in patients with normal findings on digital rectal examination with and without normal transrectal ultrasound.Materials and Methods: Consecutive patients (184) with an elevated serum PSA and normal digital rectal examination underwent transrectal ultrasound with lesion directed and systematic biopsies (6 if prostatic volume was 50 cc or less and 12 if volume was more than 50 cc). Receiver operating characteristic curves, predictive values and likelihood ratios were calculated for PSA and PSA density.Results: Of the 184 patients 50 (27 percent) with a normal digital rectal examination had cancer compared to 30 of 112 (27 percent) with a normal digital rectal examination and transrectal ultrasound. Median PSA or PSA density did not differ between the positive and negative biopsy groups among patients with a normal digital rectal examination (8.4 versus 7.1 and...
Civic Engagement in a Post-Communist State

During the communist era, numerous social and political constraints limited civic engagement in communities throughout Central and Eastern Europe. This paper explores whether such constraints have left lasting marks, and whether such lingering effects potentially slow the process of democratization. Three specific questions were explored: (1) whether civic engagement in a post-communist state differs from that in an established Western democracy; (2) whether the quality of social perception suffers when civic engagement is constrained; and (3) whether a link exists between civic engagement and tangible forms of political judgment. Data were analyzed from surveys conducted in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, in 1994 and in South Bend, Indiana, in 1984. Compared with South Bend residents, the people of Cluj-Napoca discuss politics less, engage in interactive forms of political participation at lower rates, know less about their neighbors, and fail to link the interests of people in the community to broader political judgments. Given the centrality of civic engagement to democratic legitimacy, these findings justify concern regarding the prospects for full democratization in Central and Eastern European contexts in which social interaction does not yet flourish.
Do We Need Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) Routinely in the Preoperative Setting for Rectal Cancer?

Preoperative radiotherapy and chemoradiation are considered standards of care for stage II and III rectal cancer patients. Pelvic radiotherapy for rectal cancer can lead to significant acute and late toxicity. Studies have shown that the risk of gastrointestinal toxicity is associated with the volume of small bowel exposed to radiation therapy, especially at doses around 15 Gy. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) could potentially reduce dose to small bowel and other normal structures, thereby reducing gastrointestinal and other side effects from radiotherapy. Dosimetric studies have demonstrated that IMRT could improve sparing of small bowel from radiation. However, only a limited number of clinical studies have evaluated the role of IMRT for preoperative treatment of rectal cancer.
Corrigendum to: ‘Novel cofactors via post-translational modifications of enzyme active sites’

Structure 10 shown in Fig. 1Fig. 1 contained an error and is correctly reprinted below.Fig. 1View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint Slide
Adrenergic innervation of the substantia innominata: co-localization of phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase and tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivities within the same axons☆

Adrenergic input to the rat substantia innominata (SI) was studied by immunocytochemical localization of phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT), the synthetic enzyme for adrenaline. Using primary antibodies derived from different species, we demonstrated in double-immunofluorescence labeling experiments that all PNMT-immunoreactive fibers in SI are also immunoreactive for tyrosine hydroxylase, the synthetic enzyme for dopamine. This result indicates that the PNMT immunoreactive axons in SI are indeed adrenergic fibers.
Sets with no Subset of Higher Degrees

The problem of finding an infinite set of natural numbers which contains no subsets of higher (Turing) degree was first posed by W. Miller [3] and was brought to our attention by C. G. Jockusch, Jr., who proved that such a set, if it existed, could not be hyperarithmetic. 2 In this paper we construct an infinite set which is not recursive in any of its coinfinite subsets, and thus contains no subset of higher degree. Our original proof made use of the result (attributed to Ehrenfeucht) that every subset of 2 ω which is open (in the standard topology) is “Ramsey”.
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor regulates maturation of the DARPP-32 phenotype in striatal medium spiny neurons: studies in vivo and in vitro.

The medium spiny neuron is the predominant striatal neuronal subtype.[18]The striatum, a participant in motor and cognitive functions, is a site of pathophysiology in prevalent neuropsychiatric diseases and is the target of many currently utilized pharmacologic agents. DARPP-32, a dopamine and cyclic AMP-regulated phosphoprotein, is a widely-used marker of mature striatal medium-sized neurons,5 ; 7but the molecules regulating DARPP-32 transcription have not been identified. We show that a null mutation in the mouse brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene leads to decreased DARPP-32 immunoreactivity in striatal medium spiny neurons at birth and postnatal day 10. Striatal DARPP-32 messenger RNA and protein are decreased relative to wild-type littermate controls. In densely plated (1×106 cells/cm2) primary cultures derived from the ganglionic eminences, addition of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (100 ng/ml) to defined media results in a greater than 3-fold increase in the number of DARPP-32-immunopositive cells after 12 h and greater than 4-fold (P<0.005) after 24 h. The increase in DARPP-32-immunopositivity is abolished by the addition of 2 ug/ml actinomycin D without a significant effect on cell viability. These data suggest that brain-derived neurotrophic factor directly or indirectly regulates DARPP-32 transcription in medium spiny neurons. This is the first demonstration of transcriptional regulation of DARPP-32, and the first evidence of a forebrain abnormality in a newborn neurotrophin “knockout” mouse.
Bone scintigraphy in the diagnosis and management of traumatic injury

Imaging with bone-seeking nuclear medicine radiopharmaceuticals has changed dramatically in a span of 10 years. The only indication for bone scintigraphy a decade ago was to detect skeletal metastases in patients with known carcinoma. Improvements in equipment and radiopharmaceuticals have led to the use of nuclear medicine studies for the detection and evaluation of a multitude of benign abnormalities. This article discusses the use of bone-seeking radiopharmaceuticals in traumatic processes involving the skeletal system, connective tissues, and muscles. A review of the subject is included, as well as some new ideas regarding the interpretation and evaluation of scintigraphs with respect to trauma to the bones and soft tissues.
The fabrication of through-wafer interconnects in silicon substrates for ultra-high-vacuum atom-optics cells

This paper describes a new method for fabricating through-wafer interconnects in atom trapping chips used in ultra-high-vacuum atom-optics cells for Bose?Einstein condensation (BEC) experiments. A fabrication process was developed which uses copper electroplating to seal the vias. The advantages of using feedthrough atom trapping chips are the simple microfabrication process and the reduction of the overall chip area bonded to the glass atom trapping cell. The results demonstrate that 11 A current can be conducted through the vias while the vacuum can be held under 4 ? 10?11 Torr at room temperature. The yield rate of fabricated via interconnects in this process after anodic bonding (requires heating to 425 ?C) is 97%.
A theory of the origin of spade-footed toads deduced principally by a study of their habits

Abstract This paper presents a summary of the evidence from the known habits of spadefoots as adults and as tadpoles, supplemented by the known geological and geographic changes in southwestern North America since the late Mesozoic, that (1) Scaphiopus arose as a genus from pelobatid ancestors in south-western North America, as proposed by Tanner; (2) this occurred very early in the Cenozoic area; (3) special habits in breeding behaviour arose early and became fixed in the genotype before much migration from the area of origin occurred; (4) these changes were the result of intensive selection-pressure as the climate changed; (5) special developments in behaviour of the spadefoot larvae that adjusted them to life in the temporary pools occurred; and (6) new habits of food getting (including dimorphism with predaceous cannibalism) in tadpoles of the western group (Spea) are still developing. Practically all of the facts upon which this conception rests have already been published, but this paper is the first attempt at a synthesis of these facts to form a whole picture of the importance of habits in evolutionary studies of spadefoots. As such, it is hoped that others may find stimulation to emphasize habits and their evolution in further studies to supplement the excellent researches in population genetics and in morphology which many now have in progress.