cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Misalignment between supply and demand of quality content in peer production communities

In peer production communities, individual community members typically decide for themselves where to make contributions, often driven by factors such as “fun” or a belief that “information should be free”. However, the extent to which this bottom-up, interest-driven content production paradigm meets the needs of consumers of this content is unclear. In this paper, we introduce an analytical framework for studying the relationship between content production and consumption in peer production communities. Applying our framework to four large Wikipedia language editions, we find extensive misalignment between production and consumption in all of them. We also show that this misalignment has an enormous effect on Wikipedias readers. For example, over 1.5 billion monthly pageviews in the English Wikipedia go to articles that would be of much higher quality if editors optimally distributed their work to meet reader demand. Examining misalignment in more detail, we observe that there is an excess of high-quality content about certain specific topics, and that the majority of articles with insufficient quality are in a stable state (i.e. not breaking news). Finally, we discuss technologies and community practises that can help reduce the misalignment between the supply of and demand for high-quality content in peer production communities.
Do Query Optimizers Need to be SSD-aware?

Flash-based solid state disks (SSDs) are beginning to supplant conventional rotating disks for performance-critical data in myriad DBMS applications, including decision support systems. Though SSDs provide the same block-oriented storage abstraction as conventional disks, their performance characteristics differ drastically. Whereas SSDs provide relatively modest improvements in sequential transfer rates (e.g., perhaps 2× improvement), they can provide over 100× improvement for random reads, resulting in similar sustained transfer rates regardless of the access pattern. Conventional query optimizers assume a storage cost model where sequential IOs are far less costly than random IOs, and select access paths and join algorithms based on this assumption. Given the drastic change in SSD performance characteristics, intuition suggests that optimizer cost models must be updated (e.g., to prefer non-clustered index scans more frequently). Surprisingly, our empirical investigation using a commercial DBMS finds it is not necessary to adjust query optimization when shifting relations from disk to flash—an SSD-oblivious optimizer generally makes effective choices. We make two main observations. First, we demonstrate both empirically and analytically that the range of selectivities for which an unclustered index scan can benefit from SSDs’ fast random reads is so narrow that it is inconsequential in practice. Second, our measurements show that the performance variations across alternative join algorithms on SSDs are generally smaller than the corresponding variation on disks and are dwarfed by the 5× to 6× performance boost of shifting data from disk to SSD. We conclude that existing query optimizers largely make correct decisions even when treating all storage devices as conventional disks, and the small and inconsistent performance gains available by making query optimizers SSD-aware are not worth the effort.
A single 80 mg intravenous gentamicin dose prior to prostate needle biopsy does not reduce procedural infectious complications

INTRODUCTION: Rates of infectious complications continue to increase following transrectal ultrasound guided prostate needle biopsy (TRUS PNB). Administration of a parenteral antibiotic at time of procedure represents one potential prophylaxis strategy. The efficacy of this practice remains incompletely defined. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Our institutional TRUS PNB database was reviewed to identify consecutive men undergoing a biopsy over a 48-month period. The peri-operative intravenous antibiotic regimen (when used) included gentamicin 80 mg administered intravenously (IV) 30 minutes prior to biopsy. The incidence of infections post-biopsy was compared between patients receiving oral alone versus IV plus oral antibiotic prophylaxis. RESULTS: 182 of 522 men (34.9%) included in this study received peri-procedural IV gentamicin at time of TRUS PNB, with a significant increase in utilization during the study time period (p <0.001). In total, 39 patients (7.5%) developed an infectious complication post-biopsy. No differences in infection rates were observed between patients receiving only oral prophylaxis (27 of 340, 7.9%) versus those receiving oral with IV gentamicin (12 of 182, 6.6%) (p = 0.73). CONCLUSIONS: In this 4-year cohort analysis, a single peri-procedural dose of 80 mg of intravenous gentamicin failed to confer a reduction in infectious complications following prostate needle biopsy. Such data underscore the need to better understand the dose, route, and type of antimicrobial therapy to limit procedural infections.
Multinational enterprises from Latin America: investment strategies and limits to growth and diversification

AbstractThe expansion of multinational enterprises from Latin America over the previous 10 years is part of a global trend of increasing outward foreign direct investment (FDI) from developing countries. This paper proposes to analyse outward FDI in the region categorising the behaviour of the 50 largest multinational enterprises from the region and attempting a broad classification of their motivations, objectives and means for their international expansion (FDI strategies). The author argues that the prevalent strategies identified can point towards an explanation for the current downturn in FDI outflows from the region. The paper finally provides a connection between the FDI strategies and the efforts towards structural change of the economies of the region, highlighting the role of outward FDI in this process.
Sergei S. Kamenev, Glavkom and the Struggle Over Red Army Strategy

Events on the Polish front between the Baranovichi meeting of 2 August and Pilsudski’s counterattack of 16–17 August present a most confused and complicated picture. One prominent historian who analysed these events in terms of Glavkom directives had to confess:
Speculating Daguerre: Art and Enterprise in the Work of L. J. M. Daguerre: Stephen C. Pinson

(2013). Speculating Daguerre: Art and Enterprise in the Work of L. J. M. Daguerre: Stephen C. Pinson. Photography and Culture: Vol. 6, No. 3, pp. 365-368.
Pure polyploidy: Closing the gaps in autopolyploid research

Polyploidy (whole-genome duplication, WGD) is an integral feature of eukaryotic evolution with two main forms typically recognized, autopolyploidy and allopolyploidy. In plants, a growing body of research contradicts historical assumptions that autopolyploidy is both infrequent and inconsequential in comparison to allopolyploidy. However, the legacy of these assumptions still persists through a lack of research on central facets of autopolyploid evolution. This review highlights recent research that has significantly increased scientific understanding of autopolyploidy. Key advances include: 1) unreduced female gametes contribute disproportionally to polyploidization through the formation of triploids, 2) niche divergence in autopolyploids can occur immediately or gradually after WGD through a diverse set of mechanisms, but broad niche overlap is also common between diploids and autopolyploids, and 3) the degree of genomic and transcriptomic changes following WGD is lower in autopolyploids than allopolyploids, but is highly variable both within and between species in both types of polyploids. We discuss the implications of these and other recent findings, present promising systems for future research, and advocate for expanded research in diverse areas of autopolyploid evolution.
Reverse‐Engineering Visualizations: Recovering Visual Encodings from Chart Images

We investigate how to automatically recover visual encodings from a chart image, primarily using inferred text elements. We contribute an end-to-end pipeline which takes a bitmap image as input and...
Grid-Interactive Cascaded H-Bridge Multilevel Converter PQ Plane Operating Region Analysis

Cascaded H-bridge (CHB) multilevel converters are being considered as a promising option for interfacing renewable energy resources with the grid due to their modularity, scalability, and increased efficiency when compared with traditionally used two-level inverters. When used as grid interfaces, CHB converters should be capable of controlling the injected active and reactive power while also satisfying operating criteria such as grid standards, e.g., IEEE 519. This paper aims to identify $PQ$ plane operating points available when using symmetric and asymmetric grid-interactive CHB converter topologies, and to determine the factors that prevent utilization of other converter output points. Notably, for asymmetric CHB converters, a technique is proposed to identify discordant output points where power is transferred between cells within a leg, e.g., one cell has a net regenerative power flow while the overall CHB leg does not. This work ( i ) provides distribution engineers with information regarding the active and reactive power that can feasibly be generated by grid-interactive CHB converter topologies, ( ii ) creates a framework for assessing operating point trajectories when altering the steady-state operation of grid-tied CHB converters, ( iii ) provides a basis for selecting and modifying steady-state pulse-width modulation generation techniques in order to meet desired performance criteria, and ( iv ) presents analytical techniques that can be built upon to facilitate analysis of grid-interactive CHB under conditions such as grid imbalance or during continued operation after CHB cell faults.
A Matter of Degree: Negotiating Art and Commerce in MFA Education

Occupational socialization, when successful, permits an orderly transition from novice to professional, but sometimes the process is uncertain. Successful socialization is evident when workers are ...
Military Spending and Private Investment: The Case of Israel

This thesis analyzes the long-run Crowding Out Effect of military expenditures on investment in Israel from 1948 to 2009. Changes in military spending are expected to affect the real interest rate and investment since the government has to borrow in order to finance the expenditure. Deficit spending has long-run consequences on economic growth and stability. Military expenditures took up 17.3% of government’s total expenditures and 7.3% of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, in 2009. Israel offers a great case study of how the variations in military spending may affect private investment. It also provides a unique opportunity to investigate possibility of a Crowding Out Effect.
Medical Correlates of Chronic Multisymptom Illness in Gulf War Veterans

Abstract Background Chronic multisymptom illness (CMI) is more prevalent among deployed than nondeployed veterans from the first Gulf War. Objective physiologic markers of CMI are lacking. The purpose of this study is to determine whether measurable abnormalities in the autonomic nervous system or hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis would distinguish CMI cases (CMI+) from controls (CMI-) among deployed veterans of the 1990-1991 Gulf War. Methods This is a cross-sectional case-control cohort study that examined deployed veterans who participated in the Phase III study: National Health Survey of Gulf War Veterans and Their Families. Autonomic nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis function-related measures included: 24-hour heart-rate variability, urinary catecholamines and cortisol, hypertension, insulin sensitivity, dyslipidemia, body fat, bone mineral density, and ultrasensitive C-reactive protein. Results Veterans of the first Gulf War with CMI (n = 73) and without the condition (n = 111) were studied. Sociodemographic characteristics were similar. Veterans with CMI reported poorer mental and physical functioning, greater use of prescription medications, and more nonroutine clinic visits. These veterans were also more likely to have fibromyalgia syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, metabolic syndrome, and among males, a larger waist-to-hip ratio. Lower values for a nonlinear heart-rate-variability parameter—the short-term fractal scaling exponent (DFA1), reflecting an increased randomness of beat-to-beat changes in heart rate—were observed in veterans with CMI than those veterans without it (1.28±0.16vs 1.35±0.15; p=0.005). Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function measures were similar between the two groups. Conclusion In this cohort of deployed veterans from the first Gulf War, we identified abnormal heart-rate variability in veterans with CMI compared to veterans without the condition, which suggests abnormal functioning of the autonomic nervous system and possible long-term cardiovascular effects.
Positive psychiatry comes of age.

Positive psychiatry is the science and practice of psychiatry that focuses on psycho-bio-social study and promotion of well-being and health through enhancement of positive psychosocial factors (such as resilience, optimism, wisdom, and social support) in people with illnesses or disabilities as well as the in community at large (Jeste and Palmer, 2015). It is based on the principles that there is no health without mental health and that mental health can be improved through preventive, therapeutic, and rehabilitative interventions to augment positive psychosocial factors. Positive psychiatry is not a naive, feel-good pseudoscience that views the world through rose-colored glasses. It is an evidence-based approach to understanding normal behavior as well as psychopathology and to improving well-being by measuring and enhancing positive psychosocial factors (Jeste et al., 2015).
Physics-Based Feature Engineering

We describe a new paradigm in computational imaging for performing edge and texture recognition with a superior dynamic range compared to other methods. The algorithm has its origin in Photonic Time Stretch, a realtime instrumentation technology that has enabled observation of ultrafast, non-repetitive dynamics and discovery of new scientific phenomena. In this chapter, we introduce the mathematical foundation of this new transform and review its intrinsic properties including the built-in equalization property that leads to high performance in visually impaired images. The algorithm is spearheading the development of new methods for feature engineering from visually impaired images with unique and superior properties compared to conventional techniques. It also provides a new approach to the computation of mathematical derivatives via optical dispersion and diffraction. The algorithm is a reconfigurable mathematical operator for hyper-dimensional feature detection and signal classification. It has also shown promising results in super-resolution single molecule imaging.
Social justice and the medical librarian

This lecture discusses social justice and the role that medical librarians can play in a democratic society. Social justice needs to be central to the mission of medical librarianship and a core value of the profession. Medical librarians must develop a new professional orientation: one that focuses on cultural awareness or cultural consciousness that goes beyond ourselves and our collections to that which focuses on the users of our libraries. We must develop a commitment to addressing the issues of societal, relevant health information. Using examples from medical education, this lecture makes the case for social justice librarianship. This lecture also presents a pathway for social justice medical librarianship, identifies fundamental roles and activities in these areas, and offers strategies for individual librarians, the Medical Library Association, and library schools for developing social justice education and outcomes. The lecture advocates for an understanding of and connection to social justice responsibilities for the medical library profession and ends with a call to go beyond understanding to action. The lecture emphasizes the lack of diversity in our profession and the importance of diversity and inclusion for achieving social justice. The lecture presents specific examples from some medical libraries to extend the social justice mindset and to direct outreach, collections, archives, and special collection services to expose previously hidden voices. If medical librarians are to remain relevant in the future, we must act to address the lack of diversity in our profession and use our information resources, spaces, and expertise to solve the relevant societal issues of today.
Dilute Bismuthides on InP Substrates: From Materials to Devices

Dilute bismuthides, achieved by incorporating a small amount of bismuth (Bi) into conventional III–V semiconductors, have drawn extensive attention as a class of novel material for various promising applications ranging from optoelectronics to thermoelectrics due to their interesting properties such as band gap reduction, strong spin–orbit coupling, relatively weak temperature sensitivity, etc. This chapter focuses on the study of dilute bismuthides on InP substrates: InGaBiAs and InPBi. MBE growth conditions, material morphology and properties (especially electrical and optical properties), and the related potential applications will be discussed, as will the band gap narrowing and the band anticrossing (BAC) model.
PipeDream: generalized pipeline parallelism for DNN training

DNN training is extremely time-consuming, necessitating efficient multi-accelerator parallelization. Current approaches to parallelizing training primarily use intra-batch parallelization, where a single iteration of training is split over the available workers, but suffer from diminishing returns at higher worker counts. We present PipeDream, a system that adds inter-batch pipelining to intra-batch parallelism to further improve parallel training throughput, helping to better overlap computation with communication and reduce the amount of communication when possible. Unlike traditional pipelining, DNN training is bi-directional, where a forward pass through the computation graph is followed by a backward pass that uses state and intermediate data computed during the forward pass. Naive pipelining can thus result in mismatches in state versions used in the forward and backward passes, or excessive pipeline flushes and lower hardware efficiency. To address these challenges, PipeDream versions model parameters for numerically correct gradient computations, and schedules forward and backward passes of different minibatches concurrently on different workers with minimal pipeline stalls. PipeDream also automatically partitions DNN layers among workers to balance work and minimize communication. Extensive experimentation with a range of DNN tasks, models, and hardware configurations shows that PipeDream trains models to high accuracy up to 5.3X faster than commonly used intra-batch parallelism techniques.
Bringing Home the Bacon: A Lanius ludovicianus (Loggerhead Shrike) Caches an Anthropogenic Food Item in an Urban Environment

Shrikes (Family Laniidae) are songbirds that are known for their behavior of impaling prey, and in parts of the southern United States, Lanius ludovicianus (Loggerhead Shrike) is relatively common in urban areas. Here we describe the first case of a shrike scavenging and caching an anthropogenic food item. On 12 May 2018 in an urban setting in Port Allen, LA, we observed a Loggerhead Shrike scavenge a fully cooked piece of bacon from a hotel parking lot and cache it in a Lagerstroemia indica (Crapemyrtle). Although a single observation, we believe it warrants further research to assess the prevalence of shrikes scavenging anthropogenic food items and, overall, how urbanization affects Loggerhead Shrike behavior, individual fitness, and populations.
PRESENTATION AND LONG TERM OUTCOMES OF IMMUNE CHECKPOINT INHIBITOR RELATED MYOCARDITIS

Cancer treatment in the past decade has rapidly changed with the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Myocarditis is a rare but potentially deadly complication of ICI treatment. We aim to describe presentation and long-term outcomes of ICI related myocarditis in comparison to a
Controls on Soil Organic Matter Degradation and Subsequent Greenhouse Gas Emissions Across a Permafrost Thaw Gradient in Northern Sweden

Warming-induced permafrost thaw could enhance microbial decomposition of previously stored soil organic matter (SOM) to carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), one of the most significant potential feedbacks from terrestrial ecosystems to the atmosphere in a changing climate. The environmental parameters regulating microbe-organic matter interactions and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in permafrost peatlands are however still largely unknown. The objective of this work is to understand controls on SOM degradation and its impact on GHG emissions across the Stordalen Mire, a thawing peat plateau in Northern Sweden. Here, we applied high-resolution mass spectrometry to characterize SOM molecular composition in peat soil samples from the active layers of a Sphagnum-dominated bog and rich fen sites in the Mire. Microbe-organic matter interactions and GHG emissions across the thaw gradient were controlled by aboveground vegetation and soil pH. An increasingly high abundance of reduced organic compounds experiencing greater humification rates due to enhanced microbial activity were observed with increasing thaw, in parallel with higher CH4 and CO2 emissions. Bog SOM however contained more Sphagnum-derived phenolics, simple carbohydrates, and organic- acids. The low degradation of bog SOM by microbial communities, the enhanced SOM transformation by potentially abiotic mechanisms, and the accumulation of simple carbohydrates in the bog sites could be attributed in part to the low pH conditions of the system associated with Sphagnum mosses. We show that Gibbs free energy of C half reactions based on C oxidation state for OM can be used as a quantifiable measure for OM decomposability and quality to enhance current biogeochemical models to predict C decomposition rates. We found a direct association between OM chemical diversity and δ13C-CH4 in peat porewater; where higher substrate diversity was positively correlated with enriched δ13C-CH4 in fen sites. Oxidized sulfur-containing compounds, produced by Sphagnum, were further hypothesized to control GHG emissions by acting as electron acceptors for a sulfate-reducing electron transport chain, inhibiting methanogenesis in peat bogs. These results suggest that warming-induced permafrost thaw might increase organic matter lability, in subset of sites that become wetlands, and shift biogeochemical processes toward faster decomposition with an increasing proportion of Creleased as CH4.
Comparison of long-term antithyroid drugs versus radioactive iodine or surgery for Graves' disease: A review of the literature

Background The management of Graves' disease (GD) in the US is shifting towards increased use of anti-thyroid drugs (ATD). If patients fail to achieve remission after a standard course of therapy of 12-18 months, long-term treatment with ATD (≥24 months) may be chosen over definitive therapy with radioiodine (RAI) or surgery. Clinicians will need to contrast this strategy to ablative therapies as they help patients in decision making. Summary Review of the literature illustrates that long-term ATD delivers euthyroidism with minimal complications, low financial cost and with an advantageous profile regarding quality of life (QoL) and other biological outcomes. Conclusions Long-term ATD is a viable alternative to ablative therapies in the management of GD offering advantages across multiple patient centred outcomes. Decision making must factor differences in this approach compared to ablative therapies and ultimately be tailored to individualized patient situations.
Complicated grief group therapy for community-residing persons diagnosed with serious mental illness

The traumatic death of a significant person is an under-appreciated adverse life event. Unresolved grief from traumatic death is associated with complicated grief (CG) in adulthood and both contrib...
Differential Effects of Cold Atmospheric Plasma in the Treatment of Malignant Glioma

Objective Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has recently been shown to selectively target cancer cells with minimal effects on normal cells. We systematically assessed the effects of CAP in the treatment of glioblastoma.
Social Economics: A Brief Introduction to the Handbook

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an introduction to social economics, the study, with the methods of economics, of social phenomena in which aggregates affect individual choices. Such phenomena include social norms and conventions, cultural identities and stereotypes, peer and neighborhood effects, etcetera. The aim is to illustrate the intellectual vitality and richness of the recent literature in social economics by organizing its main contributions in a series of surveys. Social economics, for instance, does not lend itself naturally to a classic distinction along the theory/empirical work line, as concepts and measurements are often developed in tight connection with each other. Traditionally, economists have considered preferences as exogenous parameters for the study of individual choice. These self-imposed constraints have traditionally limited the scope of economic theory outside of purely economic phenomena, such as markets. A different approach to the study of the endogenous formation of preferences is to characterize those systems of preferences that are stable under some specific dynamic selection mechanism. Economists have traditionally studied externalities as well as strategic interactions, that is, environments in which the actions of some agents affect either the set of feasible actions available to other agents or their preferences.
A look into the future for SiGe HBTs

In this paper, we focus on the reliability of SiGe HBTs related to scaling. HBT performance will continues to increase with no forceable significant reliability roadblocks. Designers will need to pay attention to the configuration and use conditions of the transistor.
Comparative ethical analysis of educational competition in academia: Massification and elitism in higher education

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the validity of equitable, equal, and merit equity of social and economic privileges for both gifted intellectual people and laypeople in higher educational systems.Design/methodology/approach – This paper is a conceptual comparative analysis of mass education and elitist education within the context of academic justice and academic ethical fairness. This paper is based on a review of the literature pertinent to justice and fairness in designing and implementing higher educational systems.Findings – The research undertaken reveals that there are significant fundamental differences between academic justice and academic fairness. An analysis of perceptual similarities and differences, however, reveals that more variable perceptions exist between mass education and elitist educational systems. Although both sets of models consistently place great emphasis on the issue of competitive meritocracy among students, academic justice is based on a conventional ideal...
Effect of oxygen and of carbon dioxide tension on the incidence of apnea in fetal lambs

Fetal breathing movements (FBM) in unanesthetized lambs in utero were correlated with measurements of arterial blood gases. One hundred and eighty-seven observations, consisting of the incidence of FBM during the hour preceding and the hour after the blood gas determinations, were made on 125 separate days in 30 fetuses of 117 to 146 days' gestational age. Fifty-eight percent of the observations with fetal apnea (FBM 0 to 9% in 2 hours) showed hypoxia (PaO2 less than or equal to 16 torr), whereas only 4% of the observations with FBM greater than 10% were associated with hypoxia. Sevety-eight percent of the hypoxic and normocarbic (PaCO2 42 to 53 torr) observations demonstrated apnea. However, only 44% of hypoxic plus hypercarbic (PaCO2 57 to 63 torr) fetuses were apneic, and with an elevated PaCO2, apnea tended to develop at a lower level of PaO2. We conclude that FBM may persist in the presence of hypercarbia with hypoxia.
Private and Public Economic Perspectives on Animal Disease: An Emerging Strategic Issue for Agribusiness Managers

The feature provides a convincing case for the importance of invasive species to the livestock and allied industries, while conceding that the economic research to model and measure the benefits of exclusion or eradication is still relatively underdeveloped. A progressive livestock manager realizes that his business must consider potential responses by individual people and firms (producers, consumers, businesses), as well as broader impacts within their supply chains and industries, when considering the potential threats (or opportunities) from an animal disease outbreak. To be an active voice in the formation of animal disease management and control policies that may influence the livestock sector, industry leaders may also need to understand the public policy perspectives on regional, national and international levels.
The synthesis of acidic nuclear proteins in the prereplicative phase of the isoproterenol-stimulated salivary gland.

Abstract A single injection of isoproterenol results, after a lag period of 20 hours, in a marked stimulation of DNA synthesis and cell proliferation in the mouse salivary gland. The incorporation of leucine-3H into three acidic nuclear protein fractions (nonhistone nuclear proteins) increases within 30 min following the administration of isoproterenol and does not return to control levels until 48 hours later. The three fractions consist of (a) a fraction soluble in Tris-EDTA (ribonucleoprotein fraction); (b) one extractable from nuclei with 0.15 n NaCl; and (c) an acidic fraction insoluble in the above solutions and in 0.25 n H2SO4 (residual fraction). The incorporation of leucine-3H into acidic nuclear proteins reaches its peak 12 hours after isoproterenol injection while the peak activity of the histone fraction coincides with the peak of DNA synthesis. Since the specific activity of the leucine pool does not change in stimulated glands, the increased incorporation of leucine-3H into acidic nuclear proteins indicates an increase in the rate of synthesis of these proteins. Actinomycin D given 30 min prior to isoproterenol inhibits isoproterenol-stimulated DNA synthesis but does not affect the increase in the rate of synthesis of nuclear proteins which occurs 2 hours after isoproterenol. However, the increases in the rates of synthesis occurring at 8 and 12 hours are inhibited. Cycloheximide, administered 1 hour after isoproterenol, inhibits isoproterenol-stimulated DNA synthesis as well as the increase in acidic nuclear protein synthesis at 8 and 12 hours. These results indicate a temporal difference in the synthesis of histones and acidic proteins during the transition of G0 cells to the S phase and suggest that acidic nuclear proteins may be involved in the control of cell proliferation in mammalian cells.
A social network analysis approach to detecting suspicious online financial activities

Social network analysis techniques can be applied to help detect financial crimes. We discuss the relationship between detecting financial crimes and the social web, and use select case studies to illustrate the potential for applying social network analysis techniques. With the increasing use of online financing services and online financial activities, it becomes more challenging to find suspicious activities among massive numbers of normal and legal activities.
Fractions as Subtraction: An Activity-Oriented Perspective from Elementary Children

A sample of third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade student responses to the question “What is a fraction?” were examined to gain an understanding of how children in upper elementary grades make sense of fractions. Rather than measure children's understanding of fractions relative to mathematically conventional part–whole constructions of fractions, we attempted to understand children's actions and processes. A small but nontrivial group of children used subtraction (takeaway and removal) as a framework for understanding how fractions were created and written. An analysis of the content of their responses as well as a comparison of the performance of these children with that of children who used other ways of describing fractions suggests that the use of subtraction may be a reasonable (or at least not harmful) way for children to begin to access concepts related to fractions. Also, this study suggests that attention to children's understanding through the lens of children's activity might reveal ways of thinking and insights that are masked when we compare children's thinking in more structured research settings.
Phase cycling in double-quantum-filtered COSY

Abstract High repetition rates generate artifacts in double-quantum-filtered COSY experiments, because incomplete relaxation causes a modulation of the detected signal; the resultant anomalies appear at integral multiples of the resonance offset in the F 1 dimension of the final two-dimensional spectrum. Product-operator calculations are used to predict rearrangements of the basic DQCOSY phase cycle in which these artifacts are canceled. The success of these phase cycles is tested experimentally. It is shown that a phase cycle of only four steps is necessary to provide repetition-rate artifact suppression but that it becomes easier to suppress artifacts as the length of the cycle increases, provided that attention is paid to the interaction between various types of phase cycling.
THE NEW ANTITRUST: AN AERIAL VIEW OF JOINT VENTURES AND MERGERS

While recent years have seen a remarkable relaxation of the antitrust laws, these laws are not yet dead. Moreover, what is permitted in the United States might well be illegal in the European Economic Community. American business managers therefore should proceed carefully in taking advantage of the trend to relax antitrust laws.
A theoretical study of transducer noise in piezoresistive and capacitive silicon pressure sensors

An analysis of the effect of noise introduced by the transduction process on the minimum detectable signal (MDS) of piezoresistive and capacitive pressure sensors has been performed. MDS is first introduced as an appropriate figure of merit for comparing different sensor transduction schemes. Analyses are then performed to determine the minimum MDS theoretically achievable for a broad range of generic transducer circuits. The results of the analyses indicate that noise in the transduction process is not a limiting factor in the performance of properly designed integrated silicon sensors. >
Outcomes of original and low-permeability Gore Excluder endoprosthesis for endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Objective Because of concern about the percentage of enlarging abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) after endovascular repair with the Excluder device (W.L. Gore & Assoc, Inc, Sunnyvale, Calif), the graft material was modified to reduce its permeability and released for commercial use in mid-2004. We studied all AAA repairs with Excluder endografts performed at our institution, including the original-permeability (OP) version (n = 99) and the low-permeability (LP) version (n = 48). Methods All patients were followed up with serial computed tomography (CT) angiography and three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction. Morphologic measurements, including AAA diameter and 3D volume, were prospectively entered into a database to evaluate changes in AAA size over time. Owing to the length of available follow-up for the LP version, the primary end point was AAA size change at 6 and 12 months, evaluated by Mann-Whitney U test for unpaired samples. Results Preoperative and postoperative anatomy was similar in the two groups, including AAA diameter (OP, 5.6 ± 1 cm; LP, 5.8 ± 2 cm; P = .3), aortic neck length (OP, 21 ± 1 mm; LP, 22 ± 2 mm; P = .9), postoperative aortic seal zone (OP, 18 ± 1 mm; LP, 16 ± 1 mm, P > .1) and iliac seal zone (OP, 33 ± 1 mm, LP 31 ± 1 mm, P = .2). The rate of sac shrinkage differed significantly. Orthogonal diameter measurements showed a significant difference in the rate of shrinkage by 12 months postoperatively (OP, −2.1 ± 1 mm; LP, −5.1 ± 1 mm; P = .01). By 3D volume, the rate of shrinkage was considerably different between the two groups at both 6 and 12 months (12 months: OP, −6% ± 1%; LP, −20 ± 4%; P = .0006). There was no enlargement by diameter in either group at 6 or 12 months postoperative. By standard volume criteria, however, 12 of 99 patients in the OP group and one of 48 patients in the LP group had significant AAA enlargement ≤12 months ( P = .04). Of these, four of 12 patients in the OP group had enlargement without apparent endoleak, even on delayed-contrast CT. The remainder had persistent type II endoleaks (8/12 in the OP group and 1/1 in the LP group). Multivariate analysis revealed graft permeability ( P P P Conclusions In early follow-up, the low-permeability Excluder device is associated with a significantly greater aneurysm shrinkage rate than the original version. Clinically important enlargement also appears significantly different within 1 year of implantation. Despite these promising results, longer follow-up is needed to determine whether these differences will persist.
Electrolytic redox and electrochemical generated alkaline hydrolysis of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5 triazine (RDX) in sand columns.

Sand-packed horizontal flow columns (5 cm i.d. × 65 cm) were used in laboratory experiments to simulate in situ electrolytic and alkaline hybrid treatment zone for aqueous phase decomposition of RD...
Evidence of Iron Association with Emulsion Droplets and Its Impact on Lipid Oxidation

ζ-Potential measurements were used to evaluate conditions that influence iron−emulsion droplet interactions. Fe2+ and Fe3+ associated with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS, anionic) but not with dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB, cationic) and polyoxyethylene 10 lauryl ether (Brij, nonionic) stabilized hexadecane emulsions. Association of iron with SDS-stabilized emulsion droplets increased with decreasing pH and decreased in the presence of EDTA, phytate, and NaCl. Oxidation of the SDS-stabilized salmon oil emulsion increased as iron−emulsion droplet interactions increased. EDTA concentrations (≥1000 μM) that resulted in no detectable association of iron (500 μM) with the emulsion droplets were the most effective at inhibiting oxidation. The ability of iron to associate with emulsion droplets seems to be an important factor in the promotion of lipid oxidation; therefore, techniques that control iron's physical location could be effective in controlling oxidation. Keywords: Lipid oxidation; iron; chelator...
Quantitative analysis of the relationship between nucleotide sequence and functional activity

Abstract Matrices can be used to evaluate sequences for functional activity. Multiple regression can solve for the matrix that gives the best fit between sequence evaluations and quantitative activities. This analysis shows that the best model for context effects on suppression by su2 involves primarily the two nucleotides 3' to the amber codon, and that their contributions are independent and additive. Context effects on 2AP mutagenesis also involve the two nucleotides 3' to the 2AP insertion, but their effects are not independent. In a construct for producing beta-galactosidase, the effects on translational yields of the tri-nucleotide 5' to the initiation codon are dependent on the entire triplet. Models based on these quantitative results are presented for each of the examples.
Quality of Life Among Adolescents With Cancer

The purpose of this study is to enable adolescents with cancer to self-evaluate their quality of life (QoL). Data were collected using a newly developed Likertscaled QoL instrument. In addition, each participant could comment on how the variable impacted his or her QoL. Demographic data were self-disclosed to describe the sample population of 75 adolescents (41 males and 34 females). Overall QoL scores ranged from 27 to 48 (mean = 41.27, SD = 4.31) of a possible 48. Quality of life scores were lowest among those who were female and presently receiving therapy. Overall reliability for the instrument is acceptable ( r = .77). These data reveal that adolescents are aware that their QoL is affected by cancer and its treatment. This instrument demonstrates scores that are statistically different (P = .000) between those presently receiving treatment compared with those not receiving treatment. Although not statistically significant, mean scores for females were lower than for males (P = .030), regardless of other variables. Further administration and psychometric testing of the instrument is planned.
Optimum design of thin-layer GaAs amplifiers

A theoretical result shows that electron diffusion in thin-layer GaAs amplifiers produces a frequency of maximum gain which can be in the range of 1 to 100 GHz. This result is used to obtain a set of curves to aid in device design.
Road Map for 21st Century Geographic Education: Instructional Materials and Professional Development.

Never before in human history has it been more important for a person to be geographically literate. Our world is astoundingly complex and increasingly interdependent—economically, environmentally,...
Soil Solarization on Populations of Pythium spp., Fluorescent Pseudomonas, and Damping-off of Broccoli and Cucumber

Soil solarization is the use of solar radiation to disinfest moist soil covered with clear polyethylene mulch during warm months. Beneficial effects of soil solarization are lower pathogen populations, reduced disease, and higher yield. Information on the duration of solarization benefits is necessary to achieve effective and efficient implementation of this management strategy. A 3-year study investigated effects of single- and multiple-year soil solarization on Pythium spp., Pseudomonas spp., and damping-off of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L.) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). Soil was solarized 10 weeks in 2003 only; 2004 only; 2003 and 2004; 2004 and 2005; 2003, 2004, and 2005; or not solarized. Soil was sampled from 0 to 10 cm deep and population densities of Pythium spp. and Pseudomonas spp. assayed at monthly intervals from the start of solarization until 2 months after solarization. Cucumber and broccoli were planted one month after solarization ended or plots were left fallow. During solarization...
Direct Thermal Patterning of Self-Assembled Nanoparticles

A general methodology for direct thermal patterning of self-assembled nanoparticle films is presented. Specifically, using laser heating we have fabricated ferromagnetic FePt nanoparticle array patterns with 0.8 μm pitch and an edge resolution of ∼100 nm. The nanoparticle arrays have been investigated by scanning SQUID microscopy and MFM. Finally, we have measured the patterning rate as a function of temperature by monitoring the change in optical reflectance.
Demonstration of Portfolios to Assess Competency of Residents

Residency educators are identifying approaches to measure resident competence. Portfolios are well suited since they require work already completed as part of patient care where competency must be demonstrated. This paper describes assessment of the reliability and validity of portfolios in a psychiatry residency program. This was a cross-sectional study across 4years of residency education. Using guidelines, 18 residents assembled portfolios containing five entries chosen from 13 skills. Trained raters scored the portfolios. Residents and faculty were interviewed about their perceptions. Generalizability results indicated five entries and two raters were sufficient for relative decisions. Six entries or a third rater would be sufficient for absolute decisions. Portfolio scores tended to improve with years of training and correlated with psychiatric knowledge but not clinical performance. Residents and faculty identified benefits to assembling a portfolio. Portfolios incorporate tasks embedded in the residency to provide evidence of resident competency. The results support that the score is reliable and valid.
Determinants of individuals’ preference for cross-cultural literacy: Role of international trade potential

Abstract After an overview of the literature on cultural differences acting as trade barrier, and examining the data on how European companies deal with these differences, cross-cultural literacy through learning foreign languages is suggested as an alternative to the practice of hiring immigrants. A three-country theoretical model is developed to examine how individuals’ preferences for foreign languages are affected by differences in population sizes, cultural and geographical distances, in the presence of a widely spoken language such as English. The model's results show that individuals prefer learning the language of countries with larger populations that are geographically close but culturally distant, which is consistent with the data showing foreign language preferences of many countries around the World. The model also predicts that population growth and improvements in transportation technology increases cross-cultural literacy across the countries.
Selective association of dopamine axons with their striatal target cells in vitro

The purpose of the present study was to examine the distribution of dopamine (DA) axons after simultaneously confronting DA cells with both target cells of the corpus striatum (CS) and with non-target cells of the tectum (T). Dissociated fetal cells of rostral mesencephalic tegmentum (RMT) containing DA neurons and dissociated non-target tectal cells were exposed to wheat germ agglutinin conjugated to the fluorescent dye, rhodamine, prior to reaggregation in rotatory culture in order to distinguish these cells from non-dyed CS cells in the resulting reaggregates. After 9 days in culture, RMT-T-CS reaggregates were exposed to 10(-5)M DA and processed for DA-fluorescence histochemistry. Single reaggregates were serially sectioned and color photomicrographs prepared from each section. It was found that non-target cells (red rhodamine fluorescence) segregated from the undyed target cells, forming discrete areas containing the two cell types. DA nerve cell bodies and their processes could be distinguished by their green fluorescence. Since it is not possible to distinguish axonal from dendritic processes in a single section, the extent of neuronal dendritic arborization was estimated from reaggregates prepared from cells of the RMT and non-target T cells, in which there is no extensive proliferation of DA axons and fluorescent DA processes (presumably dendrites) are confined to the area near the cell body. Following exclusion of DA dendritic fluorescence, it was found that 85.2% of the presumed axonal fibers were present in the non-dyed areas containing striatal target cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)