cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Conditional Word Embedding and Hypothesis Testing via Bayes-by-Backprop.

Conventional word embedding models do not leverage information from document meta-data, and they do not model uncertainty. We address these concerns with a model that incorporates document covariates to estimate conditional word embedding distributions. Our model allows for (a) hypothesis tests about the meanings of terms, (b) assessments as to whether a word is near or far from another conditioned on different covariate values, and (c) assessments as to whether estimated differences are statistically significant.
Understanding the Effect of Doping on Energetics and Electronic Structure for Au25, Ag25, and Au38 Clusters

We investigate the doping process theoretically for singly doped MAu24, MAg24, and MAu37 (M = Ni, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag/Au, Zn, Cd, Hg, Ga, In, and Tl) clusters using density functional theory (DFT). For ...
Conditional Independence and Dimensionality of Cognitive Diagnostic Models: a Test for Model Fit

Nonparametric cognitive diagnosis methods are useful in cognitive diagnosis modeling for calibration efficiency, especially when sample size is small or large, or the latent attributes are more complex. This article proposes the Mantel-Haenszel chi-squared statistic as an index for detecting the misspecification of latent attributes as well as testlet effects in nonparametric cognitive diagnosis methods. The proposed theoretical considerations are augmented by simulation studies conducted to assess the performance of the Mantel-Haenszel statistic under various conditions within the nonparametric diagnosis framework, with a special focus on situations were the set of latent abilities assumed to underlie the data was underspecified.
Programmable Metamaterials & Metasurfaces for Ultra-Compact Multi-Functional Photonics

We demonstrate the design and experimental verification of several examples of programmable metamaterials and metasurfaces. Such devices offer the advantage of high-density integration and versatility.
Development of a Calculated Panel Reactive Antibody Web Service with Local Frequencies for Platelet Transfusion Refractoriness Risk Stratification.

Background: Calculated panel reactive antibody (cPRA) scoring is used to assess whether platelet refractoriness is mediated by human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies in the recipient. cPRA testing uses a national sample of US kidney donors to estimate the population frequency of HLA antigens, which may be different than HLA frequencies within local platelet inventories. We aimed to determine the impact on patient cPRA scores of using HLA frequencies derived from typing local platelet donations rather than national HLA frequencies. Methods: We built an open-source web service to calculate cPRA scores based on national frequencies or custom-derived frequencies. We calculated cPRA scores for every hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) patient at our institution based on the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) frequencies and local frequencies. We compared frequencies and correlations between the calculators, segmented by gender. Finally, we put all scores into three buckets (mild, moderate, and high sensitizations) and looked at intergroup movement. Results: 2531 patients that underwent HSCT at our institution had at least 1 antibody and were included in the analysis. Overall, the difference in medians between each group's UNOS cPRA and local cPRA was statistically significant, but highly correlated (UNOS vs. local total: 0.249 and 0.243, ρ = 0.994; UNOS vs. local female: 0.474 and 0.463, ρ = 0.987, UNOS vs. local male: 0.165 and 0.141, ρ = 0.996;P
Art Is Metaphor

Art and metaphor both seem unnecessary for survival yet are unlikely to be spandrels given their ubiquity and apparent value. We discuss how art and metaphor play a similar, important role in cogni...
Advances in Reliable File-Stream Multicasting over Multi-Domain Software Defined Networks (SDN)

In prior work, we proposed a cross-layer architecture called Multicast-Push Unicast-Pull (MPUP) for Software Defined Networks (SDN) to support a reliable file-stream multicast application. In this work, we improved the algorithms used to set parameters: transport-layer sender retransmission timer, VLAN rate (which is also the sending rate) and sender-buffer size. Experimental evaluation using feeds with metadata collected from real meteorology file streams was conducted. A significant finding is that the throughput achieved is smaller than the VLAN/sending rate even though file blocks are multicast continuously in UDP datagrams. Sender-buffer waiting times and propagation delays are the main reasons for the degraded throughput. For example, increasing the VLAN rate from 20 Mbps to 500 Mbps, reduced the degradation from 90% to 45%. However, the degradation increased from 45% to 58% when the VLAN rate was increased from 500 Mbps to 1 Gbps. We found an increase in the number of block retransmissions at the higher rates, which explains this increased degradation. Increasing RTT from 0.1 ms to 100 ms caused throughput to drop from 274.8 Mbps to 27.6 Mbps on a 500 Mbps VLAN. If transmission delay was a significant component in total latency, then throughput degradation relative to VLAN rate would be small; however, the meteorology file-streams used in our study have small-sized data products. Due to bandwidth borrowing between VLAN and IP-routed services, VLAN utilization is not important, and hence we recommend using the smallest rate at which sender-buffer waiting times are insignificant.
Green Function Methods for Optoelectronics

We discuss implementation of Green function methods to simulation of transport and optical response (fluxes, noise and noise spectrum) in molecular junctions. We indicate deficiencies in standard tools of nonlinear optical spectroscopy when applied to open molecular systems, and suggest suitable alternatives based on many-body flavors of the nonequilibrium Green function method.
Adaptive Strategies of Multi-Objective Optimization For Greener Networks

Increasing energy costs and environmental issues related to the Internet and wired networks continue to be a major concern. Energy-efficient or power-aware networks continue to gain interest in the research community. Existing energy reduction approaches do not fully address all aspects of the problem. We consider the problem of reducing energy by turning off network links, while achieving acceptable load balance, by adjusting link weights. In this research, we optimize two objectives, which are minimizing network energy consumption by maximizing utilization of shortest paths, and at the same time achieving load-balance by minimizing network Maximum Link Utilization (MLU). Increasing utilization of shortest paths provides the opportunity to switch off nodes and links, thus saving network power. This research proposes a new approach that relies on live data collected from wired networks, and performs Multi Objective Optimization (MOO) using a Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGA-II) that applies alternative adaptive strategies in order to optimize both objectives. Research to date has focused on the link level or traffic load balance, to minimize energy consumption, while putting less focus on utilizing adaptive strategic techniques that optimize multi objectives problems. This work proposes a novel approach to select underutilized links to go to sleep using adaptive strategies of MOO that are aware of traffic changes. Re-computing the algorithm should take less than a minute, while network traffic is frequently updated every few minutes. The hybrid approach we proposed was able to reduce the power consumption by 35%, while reducing MLU by 31% for specific traffic pattern used in Abilene network topology.
Identification and characterization of lipopolysaccharide receptor molecules on mammalian lymphoid cells.

Since the discovery by Neter in the late 1950’s that bacterial endotoxic lipopolysaccharides (LPS) will bind readily to cells of mammalian origin (reviewed in 15), the concept of specific receptors for LPS has intrigued endotoxin researchers. A variety of immunologic, biochemical and morphologic approaches have been adopted in order to demonstrate experimentally the existence of such LPS receptors; in general however, such efforts have been confounded by relatively high levels of nonspecific binding to mammmalian cell membrane components (reviewed in 16). A specific membrane localized high affinity LPS binding lipoglycoprotein present on human erythrocytes was identified by Springer and his colleagues in 1970 (24, 25), although efforts to extend these observations to human platelets and leukocytes or murine lymphocytes were less successful (26, 27). More recent efforts by several investigators have provided strong evidence for receptors on distinct cell subpopulations for carbohydrate components of specific preparations of LPS, (reviewed in 7), but the specific receptor for the structurally conserved, biologically active lipid A component of LPS has, to date, not been defined.
Prostate-Specific Deletion of Cdh1 Induces Murine Prostatic Inflammation and Bladder Overactivity

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an age-related debilitating prostatic disease that is frequently associated with prostatic inflammation and bothersome lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Animal models have shown that formalin- and bacterial-induced prostatic inflammation can induce bladder dysfunction; however, the underlying mechanisms contributing to prostatic inflammation in BPH and bladder dysfunction are not clear. We previously reported that E-cadherin expression in BPH is downregulated in hyperplastic nodules compared with expression in adjacent normal tissues. Here, we explored the potential consequences of prostatic E-cadherin downregulation on the prostate and bladder in vivo using an inducible murine model of prostate luminal epithelial-specific deletion of Cdh1. The prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-CreERT2 transgenic mouse strain expressing tamoxifen-inducible CreERT2 recombinase driven by a 6-kb human PSA promoter/enhancer was crossed with the B6.129-Cdh1tm2Kem/J mouse to generate bigenic PSA-CreERT2/Cdh1-/- mice. Deletion of E-cadherin was induced by transient administration of tamoxifen when mice reached sexual maturity (7 weeks of age). At 21 to 23 weeks of age, the prostate, bladder, and prostatic urethra were examined histologically, and bladder function was assessed using void spot assays and cystometry. Mice with Cdh1 deletion had increased prostatic inflammation, prostatic epithelial hyperplasia, and stromal changes at 21 to 23 weeks of age, as well as changes in bladder voiding function compared with age-matched controls. Thus, loss of E-cadherin in the murine prostate could result in prostatic defects that are characteristic of BPH and LUTS, suggesting that E-cadherin downregulation could be a driving force in human BPH development and progression.
Accounting for Firm Heterogeneity within U.S. Industries: Extended Supply-Use Tables and Trade in Value Added Using Enterprise and Establishment Level Data

This paper presents experimental trade-in-value added statistics estimated from extended supply-use tables (SUTs) for the United States for 2005 and 2012 that account for firm heterogeneity. We also present preliminary output from a microdata linking project between the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau on the U.S. semiconductor and other electronic components manufacturing industry to show how different firm characteristics account for heterogeneity. Our experimental results show that imported content of exports as a share of exports varies notably by firm-type within most industries, and that the imported content of exports is concentrated in a few industries, the largest being petroleum manufacturing. Despite the dominance that U.S. and foreign multinational enterprises (MNEs) have over trade transactions, both MNEs and non-MNEs make significant contributions to the content of U.S. exports. Estimates based on our microdata linking project suggest that production patterns by ownership, firm size class, and export intensity each exhibit firm heterogeneity to some extent. The ownership criterion best identifies heterogeneity in the value added share of production among the three criteria, while firm size class identifies heterogeneity in the export share of production better than the ownership criterion.
Treatment of Pulmonary Tuberculosis

This chapter addresses the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis highlighting drug classes, recommended regimens, adverse drug reactions, drug-drug interactions, and practical aspects of monitoring, The principles of treatment of latent tuberculosis are also addressed including whom to treat, what regimens to use, and practical aspects of monitoring.
Use of a Daratumumab-Specific Immunofixation Assay to Assess Possible Immunotherapy Interference at a Major Cancer Center: Our Experience and Recommendations.

BACKGROUND The incorporation of monoclonal antibodies, such as daratumumab, into multiple myeloma treatment regimens has led to the issue of false-positive interference in both serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) and immunofixation (IF). The Hydrashift assay removes daratumumab interference from IF, allowing for correct interpretation. Here, we retrospectively examined the use of the Hydrashift assay at a large cancer center and provide guidelines on its most appropriate use. METHODS 38 patients with distinct daratumumab peaks on their SPEP were selected and were used to quantify the daratumumab peak on SPEP using the Sebia Phoresis software. A retrospective review of all Hydrashift assays ordered at our institution from July 2018 to March 2020 was performed. Data collected included patient clone type, IF migration patterns, and Hydrashift result. Serial quantification of SPEP results was performed as the corresponding IF transitioned from a true positive to a false positive. RESULTS Daratumumab adds a maximum magnitude of 0.20 g/dL on SPEP. Serial SPEP quantification showed IF transitioned from true positive to false positive when M-spikes ranged from 0.09 g/dL to 0.11 g/dL. Over 20 months, our laboratory performed 280 Hydrashift assays on 96 patients, 43/96 of whom had comigrating daratumumab/IgG-K IF bands. CONCLUSIONS The Hydrashift assay is typically unnecessary in patients with large M-spikes, >0.25 g/dL, regardless of clone type. When patient history is available, we recommend the Hydrashift assay be used in patients with comigrating daratumumab/IgG-K bands with M-spikes of <0.25 g/dL.
Origin and diagenetic priming of a potential slow-slip trigger zone in volcaniclastic deposits flanking a seamount on the subducting plate, Hikurangi margin, New Zealand

Slow-slip megathrust events in the Hikurangi forearc region may be related to seamount subduction. IODP Expedition 375 drilled the flank of Tūranganui Knoll, a Cretaceous seamount east of the subdu...
Spatially-patterned states in systems of interacting lumped reactors: The case of exothermic reactions

Abstract The steady-state and stability behavior of networks of lumped reactors, individually open to mass and heat transfer, and interacting with each other by means of mass and heat exchange has been investigated. Stable spatially nonuniform steady-states have been found to exist. Their range of existence has been shown to depend on the symmetry and geometric features of the network. The stability behavior of spatially uniform steady-states has also been investigated. For a finite range of parameter values of the system these states become unstable when subjected to a set of spatially nonuniform infinitesimal perturbations and grow, almost universally, towards spatially nonuniform steady-states.
Analysis of alternative splicing with microarrays: successes and challenges

Recently, DNA microarrays have emerged as potentially powerful tools for analyzing alternative splicing. We briefly review the latest results in this field and highlight the current challenges that they have revealed.
NAFTA, LABOR, AND THE RECOVERY PROJECT

As I contend in this article, neoliberal, globalizing policies have significant cultural repercussions. In particular, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) imbricates the “Recovering the U.S. Hispanic Literary Heritage” project, an academic publishing series initiated coincidentally with the NAFTA negotiations in the early 1990s. The project publishes so-called Hispanic literature that spans the geographic and cultural boundaries of the current relationship between the U.S. and Mexico. As responses to the labor and immigrant conditions promulgated by precursors to NAFTA, the recovered texts offer a potent critique of the current situation that parallels the context of the historic texts. Specifically, Maria Ruiz de Burton's The Squatter and the Don's republication by the Recovery project overcomes the limitations of neoliberal multiculturalism through its depiction of immigrant labor and model of proper U.S. citizenship. By engaging these issues, the text indicts NAFTA's repercussion for individuals, especially laborers, in the U.S. and Mexico, illustrating the critical potential of the Recovery project.
Pet Rx: Implications for Good Health

According to Dr. Aaron Ketcher, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania, studies reveal that potential health values exist in use of pets in the rehabilitation process. Caution, however, must be taken. Animals are not a cure-all, but they can be urged as valuable complements to service offerings. As presented by AARP Board member Marion Waite, "Pets are good for your health." She goes on to state that pets help reduce stress and blood pressure and speed up recovery from traumatic incidents such as moves, illness, or the death of a loved one (AARP, 1987). Growing understanding of relationships between people and their pets suggests benefits that barely have been tapped. Some forecasters have predicted that one day patients may receive a prescription to obtain a pet as routinely as prescribed medication. Incorporating animals as a therapeutic approach for the development and rehabilitation of special population members can be unique and beneficial. Animal therapy can be a salutary form of rehabilitation if the program is organized, supervised, and implemented in a professional manner. Implementing this approach may result in promoting unconditional acceptance and enhancing the normalization process for special population members.
Optimum DAC resolution for WMAN, WLAN and WPAN OFDM-based standards

The first step in the design and implementation of DAC is to analyze the characteristics of the baseband modulated signal right before digital-to-analog conversion. This is crucial in order to minimize the complexity of the DAC. The paper demonstrates the generalized derivation of the optimum DAC resolution for various wireless standards based on the analytical evaluation of the normalized power distribution, clipping noise effect, and dynamic range.
The plebeians rehearse the uprising

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of rising concerns about income inequality on the reputation of large global employers. In an era in which middle class incomes have stagnated for several decades, the continuing decline of labor unions seems paradoxical. The paper suggests that the impassivity of the workforces of the developed countries may be coming to an end and that thoughtful employers can and should be doing more to address the needs of their employees from both a benefits and job satisfaction perspective. Otherwise, they may face renewed repetitional threats that could translate into regulatory penalties. Design/methodology/approach – The paper cites evidence of an increasing concern about income inequality in the developed economies and examines best practices in employee relations from a number of leading corporations to suggest ways in which companies can manage new repetitional threats relating to the way they manage their employees. Findings – The paper provides ins...
An intelligent integrated sensor system for the ORNL mobile robot

The mobile robot prototypes developed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Center for Engineering Systems Advanced Research (CESAR) are equipped with sonar sensors and CCD cameras that are used to support autonomous navigation and simple inspection tasks in an a priori unknown and unstructured dynamic environment. A laser range camera is being added to the sensor suite of HERMIES III, a mobile robot that is currently being built. The authors summarize work directed at extracting information from data collected with these sensors and integrating it, in order to produce reliable descriptions of the robot's environment. Specifically, they describe the integration of two-dimensional vision and sonar range information. The integration methodology is based on a framework for multisensor integration that consists of multiple, distributed world models and appropriate mappings among them. All operations are carried out onboard the mobile robot using a 16-processor hypercube computer. >
Bortezomib Inhibits Expression of TGF-β1, IL-10, and CXCR4, Resulting in Decreased Survival and Migration of Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma Cells

Increased expression of the immunosuppressive cytokines, TGF-β1 and IL-10, is a hallmark of the advanced stages of cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL), where it has been associated with suppressed immunity, increased susceptibility to infections, and diminished antitumor responses. Yet, little is known about the transcriptional regulation of TGF-β1 and IL-10 in CTCL, and about their function in regulating the CTCL cell responses. In this article, we show that TGF-β1 and IL-10 expression in CTCL cells is regulated by NF-κB and suppressed by bortezomib (BZ), which has shown promising results in the treatment of CTCL. However, although the TGF-β1 expression is IκBα dependent and is regulated by the canonical pathway, the IL-10 expression is IκBα independent, and its inhibition by BZ is associated with increased promoter recruitment of p52 that characterizes the noncanonical pathway. TGF-β1 suppression decreases CTCL cell viability and increases apoptosis, and adding exogenous TGF-β1 increases viability of BZ-treated CTCL cells, indicating TGF-β1 prosurvival function in CTCL cells. In addition, TGF-β1 suppression increases expression of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-8 and IL-17 in CTCL cells, suggesting that TGF-β1 also regulates the IL-8 and IL-17 expression. Importantly, our results demonstrate that BZ inhibits expression of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 in CTCL cells, resulting in their decreased migration, and that the CTCL cell migration is mediated by TGF-β1. These findings provide the first insights into the BZ-regulated TGF-β1 and IL-10 expression in CTCL cells, and indicate that TGF-β1 has a key role in regulating CTCL survival, inflammatory gene expression, and migration.
'I Class Struggle': French Exceptionalism and Challenges for Socialist Studies

‘Je lutte des classes’ ‘I class struggle’ – sticker worn by protestors in Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Lille, and other major French cities on Tuesday, October 12, 2010, during the 5th day of strike action. The protests aimed to challenge proposed legislation to raise the legal age of retirement in France from sixty to sixty two years of age. As in the English translation, the original French is grammatically awkward, an ambiguous if not ambivalent union between ‘I’ and ‘class struggle’.
PROPERTIES OF SURFACE-MODIFIED COLLOIDAL PARTICLES

The reactivity of colloidal particles is regulated by their surface properties. These properties affect the wettability, flocculation-dispersion characteristics, ion exchange, sorption capacities and transport of inorganic colloids. Most studies have focused on hydrophilic, charged-particle surfaces, often ignoring the alterations in surface properties produced by the adsorption of natural organic matter, surfactants and other compounds. Adsorption of these substances can potentially render a surface substantially more hydrophobic. Nevertheless, comparatively little is known about changes in surface properties and reactivity of minerals upon sorption of hydrophobic organic compounds. In this study, the properties of four minerals (kaolinite, pyrophyllite, montmorillonite and Min-U-Sil®) and two inorganic materials (X-ray amorphous Al hydroxide and X-ray amorphous Si oxide) were compared before and after treatment with the common silylating agent, trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS). The samples were characterized by measurements of total carbon, cation exchange capacity (CEC), particle size, specific surface area (SSA), electrophoretic mobility, contact angle, particle aggregation, and by X-ray diffraction and diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy. For the layer silicates, surface coverage was limited to ∼2% trimethyl silane (TMSi). TMSi covered 7.5% of the Min-U-Sil® surface and 33% of the X-ray amorphous Si oxide. Treatment did not affect the structure of the minerals but reduced the CEC, SSA and electrophoretic mobilities. Water contact angles increased to between 18 and 114° with treatment. While the apolar characteristic of the surfaces decreased minimally with treatment, the Lewis acid/base properties were substantially reduced and interfacial free energy shifted from positive to negative values indicating a more hydrophobic surface character. For all the samples except kaolinite, these changes affected the stability of the colloids in suspension depending upon solution pH. Although the grafting of TMSi altered colloidal mineral surface properties and increased their hydrophobicity, these changes were not sufficient to predict colloid aggregation behavior.
a Study of Polarization Capacity and Resistance at Radio Frequencies.

Polarization capacity and resistance of electrolytic cells having Au and Pt electrodes in ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$S${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ solution, for frequencies of 11 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{4}$ to 2 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{6}$ cycles per second.---The cell was placed in a tuned circuit coupled to a generating circuit, and the polarization capacity $C$ was computed from the change of capacity required to restore resonance as indicated by means of a second loosely coupled circuit containing a detector and galvanometer. The polarization resistance $\ensuremath{\Delta}R$ was obtained by substituting for the cell a variable non-inductive resistance. Both $C$ and $\ensuremath{\Delta}R$ were found to be linear functions of $\frac{1}{\ensuremath{\surd}f}$ where $f$ is the frequency. For Au electrodes, the curves all go through the origin but for Pt the limits for infinite frequency are positive for capacity and negative for resistance and vary with the concentration. For both Au and Pt the slopes of the capacity curves increase with concentration while the slopes of the resistance curves decrease. In the case of Au, $2\ensuremath{\pi}\mathrm{fC}\ensuremath{\Delta}R=tan \ensuremath{\psi}=\mathrm{const}.$ (nearly), whereas for Pt, $tan \ensuremath{\psi}$ varies. These results may be associated with the fact that the residual current is only 1/20 as much for Au as for Pt. The effect of previous polarization with ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ is a temporary increase of capacity, while ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ gives a permanent increase which cannot be removed by polarization with ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$. The roughness of the surface as well as the previous history affect the values of $C$ and $R$ obtained. Qualitatively the results for $C$ and $\ensuremath{\psi}$ are in agreement with the theory of Warburg, provided some assumptions are made, but not the results for $\ensuremath{\Delta}R$. Possible reasons for the discrepancies are suggested.
Effect of asthma on the quality of life among children and their caregivers in the Atlanta Empowerment Zone.

Background and Objective Asthma is the most common chronic pediatric disease and exacts a toll on the health-related quality of life of affected children and their primary caregivers. This investigation describes the relationship between the clinical severity of asthma among inner-city children and their quality of life and that of their primary adult caregivers.
Collisional broadening and shift of neutral argon spectral lines

The collisional self-broadening and shift of neutral argon spectral lines have been determined as a function of atom density $N$ for several lines terminating on either the lower resonance or lower metastable levels. The lines were emitted by a variable-pressure discharge tube equipped with intracapillary thermocouples, and were observed using a pressure-scanned Fabry-Perot interferometer. The line profiles were analyzed using a least-squares fit of Whiting's Voigt function to all profile intensity points. Particular attention was given to the determination of the gas temperature, from which $N$ was calculated. The contribution of nonresonant interactions to the broadening and shift of lines connected to the ground state via resonant transitions was examined using the analysis of Lewis.
Observations of radiation damage and recovery in ammonia targets

The Polarized Target Group at the University of Virginia has conducted experiments at both the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) and the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLab) in which a high-intensity (100 nA) electron beam was focused on a polarized target of solid ammonia and/ or solid, deuterated ammonia. Analysis of the target polarization data have revealed several unique characteristics of ammonia. Topics discussed include the rate of polarization decay with accumulated charge, methods of recovering polarization through target annealing and damage-induced shifts in the optimum microwave frequency used to drive the polarization.
Spectral energy measurements of simulated microemboli of various sizes using a diffraction grating ultrasound probe

This study characterizes the Doppler signal from simulated microemboli of various sizes in blood mimicking fluid using spectral energy parameters. The goal of this research is to detect microemboli as a non-invasive diagnostic tool, or intra-operatively as a surgical aid. A dual beam diffraction-grating ultrasound probe operating at 10 MHz (Model Echoflow BVM-1, EchoCath, Inc., Princeton, NJ) was used with a flow phantom. Microemboli were polystyrene microspheres in 200 to 1000 micron diameters, in concentrations of 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 per ml. Average flow velocities were 25, 50, 75, and 100 cm/sec. The distribution of peak values of the power spectrum at 2.5 msec windows was plotted over 15 seconds. The means of the distributions corresponding to the microspheres and background fluid were averaged for the four velocity conditions. Embolic peak spectral power ranged from approximately 12 to 25 dB relative to the background. A detection method based on these measurements is currently being developed.
The Contribution of Maternal Involvement to Mastery Performance in Infants with Cerebral Palsy

The purpose of this study was to consider maternal contributions to the development of spontaneous mastery. Thirty infants with cerebral palsy and 31 normally developing infants were videotaped in solitary free play and developmentally assessed at 18 months of age. Mastery behavior was assessed using the spontaneous mastery measure (Hmcir, Speller, & West, 1985) an adaptation of the Belsky and Most (1981) play scale, and scores were calculated from the free play situation. Maternal involvement was observed using the Parent/Caregiver Involvement Scale (PCIS) (Farran, Kasari, Comfort, & Jay, 1986). Mothers' ability to adapt their interactions to the developmental needs of their children was assessed. The results showed that mothers in the two groups did not differ in the quality and appropriateness of interaction with their infants. Matemal involvement scores contributed significantly to both sponanteous mastery and developmental level regardless of risk status. Implications for service providers are to foc...
Reflectivity of picosecond neodymium laser pulses in germanium

Abstract The reflectivity of picosecond pulses from a Nd: glass laser on Ge has been measured. A marked increase (∽ 20%) has been found at excitation intensities just below the damage threshold. The effect is discussed in terms of the contribution to the dielectric constant of the crystal, arising from direct intraband transitions within the branches of the valence band. The relevance of these transitions to explain the “plateau” observed in the transmission experiment, is also briefly pointed out.
Trans-border worker citizens: Hemispheric labor and the many faces of citizenship

The essay discusses the world of immigrants and their rights as workers as they cross the border to work. It focuses on a concept of citizenship that is expanded to include the rights of immigrant workers to decent wages and security for their families. By focusing on production, the category of citizenship is broadened to include the constitutional extension of rights to all persons in our jurisdiction. The argument is not for open borders nor for automatic citizenship; rather, it is for an inclusive concept that addresses a global economy that does not recognize borders.
A Tilted Kernel Estimator for Nonparametric Regression in the Secondary Analysis of Case–Control Studies

The case–control study is an important tool in epidemiology and has pointed the way to many important discoveries for the study of factors related to disease outcomes. The primary analysis of case–control studies focuses on the relationship between disease ( $$D$$ ) and a set of covariates of interest $$(Y,X)$$ . This article focuses on the secondary application of case–control studies in order to investigate the interrelationship between the covariates. We focus on nonparametric regression, and develop a novel nonparametric approach based on a novel-adjusted kernel estimator, the tilted kernel estimator. Asymptotic properties of the tilted kernel estimator are derived. A substantial increase in efficiency over the standard practice of using only controls is demonstrated through simulations and two empirical examples.
A case study on the lightweight verification of a multi-threaded task server

We present a case study on the verification of the design of a commercial multi-threaded task server (MTTS), developed by the Novabase company, used for massively parallelizing computational tasks. In a first stage, we employed the Plural tool, which is designed to perform lightweight verification of Java programs using a data-flow analysis (DFA) framework, to specify and verify the MTTS. We wrote the Plural specification for the MTTS based on the code developed by Novabase, its informal documentation, and our discussions with Novabase engineers, who validated our understanding of the MTTS application. The Plural specification language is based on typestates and access permissions. In a second stage, we developed the Pulse tool, which enhances the analysis performed by Plural, and used the tool on the MTTS specifications. Pulse translates Plural specifications into an abstract state-machine model that captures the semantics of all the possible concurrent programs implementing the given specifications, and uses the evmdd-smc symbolic model checker to verify the machine model. The experimental results on the MTTS specification show that the exhaustive model-checking approach scales reasonably well and is efficient at finding errors in specifications that were not previously detected with the data-flow analysis (DFA) capabilities of Plural.
A toroidal power inductor using radial-anisotropy thin-film magnetic material based on a hybrid fabrication process

This paper presents improvements for the design and fabrication of high-frequency toroidal power inductors with and without radial-anisotropy thin-film magnetic material. An improved winding resistance model for toroids is developed considering an angle factor for actual winding shape, the effect of spacing between turns and loss associated with exterior current in the circumferential direction. A hybrid process for fabricating low-profile magnetic-core toroids is presented. The process uses standard flex printed circuit board (PCB) technology for the top and bottom winding layers with vias electroplated after sandwiching the magnetic core between the two winding layers. Thin-film magnetic material (Co-Zr-O) is deposited in the presence of a radial magnetic field, which induces radial anisotropy in the toroidal core. Small-signal measurements show that the toroidal core has a relative permeability over 40 at frequencies up to several hundred megahertz, and very high quality factor in the frequency range below 100 MHz. Air-core and magnetic-core toroidal inductors using this hybrid fabrication process were built and tested at small-signal levels. Magnetic-core toroids showed a higher inductance and quality factor than air-core toroids at frequencies below 100 MHz. This winding loss model and fabrication process can be applied to both air-core and magnetic-core toroidal inductors.
Lower Limits of Detection for Single Biological Particles Using Impedance Spectroscopy

Single-cell impedance spectroscopy integrated with lab-on-a-chip systems provides a direct and minimally invasive approach for monitoring and characterizing properties of individual cells in real-time. Here we investigate the theoretical potential and limitations of this technique for analyzing single membrane-bound particles as small as 100 nm in diameter. Our theoretical model suggests a lower limit of detection for single cells on the order of a few microns.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Tying collection development's loose ends with interlibrary loan

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discover the characteristics and quality of interlibrary loan (ILL) titles, and determine whether purchasing ILL titles is a useful collection development method.Design/methodology/approach – The study analyzed document containing 18,322 monographic education and psychology monographs borrowed by Southern Illinois University Carbondale patrons through I‐Share, Illinois' statewide catalog, during the 2004 calendar year. Education and psychology books account for 574 of the 18,322 titles. The study located 132 reviews for 92 of the titles by searching PsycINFO and Education Abstracts. It recorded reviewer recommendation, publication date, publisher, source of review, and list price.Findings – The paper finds that ILL titles are high quality, inexpensive, new, and easy to obtain. Average list price of education and psychology ILL titles is $48.82. A total of 60 percent of the titles were published in the last three years. Only 7 percent of the titles received negativ...
Development of a diffusion mobility database for Ni-base superalloys

Abstract For the fcc phase of the Ni–Al–Co–Cr–Hf–Mo–Re–Ta–Ti–W system, diffusion data in various constituent binary systems were assessed to establish a multicomponent diffusion mobility database. The diffusion assessment relied on an existing thermodynamic database for the calculation of needed thermodynamic factors. The mobilities determined for the self-diffusion of the components in the fcc phase (a metastable state for some components) were consistent with the correlation of the diffusivity with the melting point. The general agreement of calculated and measured diffusion coefficients in the Ni–Co–Cr–Mo and Ni–Al–Cr–Mo quaternary systems demonstrated the ability of the database to extrapolate to higher order systems. Finally, the mobility database, in conjunction with an available thermodynamic database and a finite-difference diffusion code, was used to simulate a multicomponent diffusion couple between two commercial Ni-base superalloys.
Current and Future State of the US Nursing Workforce

DESPITE A RECENT STRENGTHENING OF THE REGIStered nurse (RN) workforce, the US health care delivery system needs to prepare for an aging population of RNs and a coming wave of retirements. Over the next 20 years, the average age of RNs will increase, and the size of the workforce will plateau as large numbers of RNs retire. Because the demand for RNs is expected to increase steadily during this same period, a large and prolonged shortage of RNs is expected to develop in the latter half of the next decade, threatening access and quality and increasing health care costs. The question looming over the nursing profession, employers, nursing educators, physicians, other health professionals, and health care policy makers is what can be done to mitigate these developments.
Optimal Coordinating Policies of Pumped Hydrostorage Plants in the Presence of Uncertainty

This paper describes a two level stochastic optimization procedure for the computation of optimal coordination strategies of pumped hydrostorage plants with integrated electric power systems. At the first level a quadratic programming procedure optimizes the operation of pumped hydrostorage plants over a period of one day for specified terminal stored energy levels. At the second level a dynamic programming successive approximations procedure determines optimal stored energy levels at the beginning of each day. Uncertainty resulting from generating unit forced outages, electric load and run of the river variations is incorporated at this level. The method has been implemented using sparcity techniques. Results obtained with a realistic 46-generating unit, 11,900 MW peak load system are included. The results indicate that the impact of generating unit forced outages and load uncertainty on storage plant scheduling is substantial. In general, thermal unit outages amplify the economic benefits from storage plants. Also for a given electric power system there exists an optimal total capacity of storage plants. The methodology of this paper is applicable for scheduling other storage plants and can be used for operations planning as well as expansion planning.
Suggested parameter to estimate the region probed by photons in laser-based measurements

Abstract In many biomedical applications of laser radiation to estimate optical parameters in tissue, it is desirable, if not crucial, to describe the region being probed. We suggest a parameter for this purpose, based on a lattice random walk on a simple cubic lattice. It is the expected number of distinct sites visited by a random walker. This is relatively easy to compute, although higher moments are not. Detailed computations are given for a continuous-wave measurement on a semi-infinite medium bounded by an absorbing plane and for a slab geometry required to analyse transillumination experiments.
Ethnicity/race and outcome in the treatment of depression: results from STAR*D.

Objectives:This secondary analysis of data from the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) study compared rates of remission and response for blacks (n = 495), whites (n = 1853), and Hispanics (n = 327) with nonpsychotic major depressive disorder who were treated with citalo
The rhetoric of dread: Fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD) in information technology marketing

This article examines the nature and legality of FUD, which—as will be seen—is a timely subject. IBM may have been FUD’s originator but its greatest practitioner is allegedly none other than Microsoft, which (according to the firm’s critics) has repeatedly exercised FUD tactics in order to acquire and maintain its operating system monopoly. In particular, this article compares Amdahl’s experience with IBM to the emerging contours of Microsoft’s battle against a surprisingly able competitor, the open source operating system called Linux. A major contention of this essay is that attorneys, judges, and legal scholars tend to pay insufficient attention to the unique characteristics of technology enterprises, and thus cannot distinguish meaningfully between practices that are plainly legal under U. S. antitrust law, and those which are not. A perspective drawn from the history and sociology of technology (namely, Thomas P. Hughes’ concept of technological systems) is used to elucidate what is predatory, and what is not, in a dominant market player’s use of FUD and associated marketing tactics.
Investigation of vertical crosstalk for a TFT-LCD with an inorganic black matrix on the array

The origin of vertical crosstalk (CT) was investigated experimentally and theoretically for an inorganic black matrix (BM) (amorphous-SiGe:H) on the TFT array of a 10.4-in. VGA LCD driven by a vertical-line-inversion method. It was found that there were two kinds of CT: electrically induced CT and optically induced CT. The first type was mainly due to capacitive coupling between a data line and an indium tin oxide (ITO) pixel electrode through the BM. It was calculated that a BM sheet resistance of more than 10 15 Ω/□ was needed to eliminate this kind of CT. The second type was due to low optical density (OD) of the BM, and it was found that an OD of 2.3 was necessary to eliminate it.
Statistical, biological, and categorical sensor fusion : an integrated methodology

In this paper, we investigate sensor fusion along three avenues: statistical, biological, and categorical. The first two approaches are analyzed simultaneously to provide a precise and rigorous sensor fusion methodology. The statistical model currently enhances Bayesian methods for tracking, and suggests further application to target identification and fusion - involving both low level feature extraction and higher level sensor output combination. The biological model is also applied to multiple levels of the fusion problem. On the lowest level, it utilizes biologically-inspired results for improved feature extraction. On the higher levels, it develops biologically-inspired evolutionary and agency algorithms for sensor output combination and sensor network analysis. Ultimately, we model the entire fusion process with category theory. Category theory allows for the application of advanced mathematical theory to fusion analysis. In addition to using category theory as a modeling tool, in this paper we adapt categorical logic via topos theory to provide an advanced framework for decision fusion - initially using the topos of graphs. Graphs are a simpler representation. We suggest formulations which will be richer - toward the goal of a theoretically robust and computationally practical sensor fusion system for assisted/automatic target recognition.
A new method for fracturing mineral particles for cross-sectional FESEM analysis

Cross-sectionalsamplesofmineral� particlesobservedinafieldemissionscanning� electronmicroscope� (FESEM)� canprovide� informationontheirshape,� dimensions,� and� crystalgrowththatisdifficulttoobtainwithother� preparationmethodsandanalyticaltechniques.�A� novelapproachforthepreparationandmeasurement� ofmineralparticlesincross-sectionwasinvestigated� inthiswork.�Theuniquesamplepreparationmethod� involvesvacuumembeddingthemineralparticles� inepoxyandmechanicallyfracturingthemineral� particlesacrosstheirlengths.�Themorphologyand� characteristicsoftheparticlecross-sectionscanbe� directlyobservedinaFESEM.�Thedimensionsofthe� particlecross-sectionscanthenbemeasuredfromthe� FESEMimagesoff-linewithacommercialsoftware� package.� Theprocedurewasusedtocharacterize� achrysotilestandardreferencematerial,� South� Africancrocidoliteandanamositestandardreference� material.�Themajorandminorcross-sectionchord� lengthswererecordedfor�25�particlesforeachofthe� threesamples.�Thechrysotilesamplehadaverage� majorandminorcross-sectionchordlengthsof�0.06� µmand� 0.05� µm,� respectively.�TheSouthAfrican� crocidolitesamplehadaveragemajorandminor� cross-sectionchordlengthsof�0.09�µmand�0.07�µm,� respectively.�Theamositesamplehadaveragemajor� andminorcross-sectionchordlengthsof�0.23�µmand� 0.15�µm,�respectively.�Thechrysotilesamplehadthe� smallestcross-sectionalchordmeasurements,�while� theamositehadthelargestcross-sectionalchord� measurements.� Theaveragechordcross-section� ratiosofthemajortominorchordlengthswere�1.1� forchrysotile,�1.4�forcrocidoliteand�1.7�foramosite.� Thechordcross-sectionratiosillustratethatchrysotile� hasanearlycircularcross-sectionincomparisonto� crocidoliteandamosite. r i A s s u n t o . � — � L' o s s e r v a z i o n et r a m i t e�