cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Communicative ability conceptions among children who stutter and their fluent peers: a qualitative exploration.

Abstract Meta issues in stuttering were examined by analyzing verbal-descriptive data drawn from structured interviews with 23 male children who stutter (CWS) and their 23 fluent male peers. Participants described others’ “good” and “bad” talk behaviors and provided their self-appraisals as talkers. Analysis of interview transcripts suggested that CWS favored unidimensional criteria for describing others’ talk behaviors, where others’ speech–language forms, particularly allusions to stuttering behaviors, were noted most commonly in the descriptions. In contrast, children who did not stutter used multidimensional criteria to describe others’ talk behaviors, where others’ speech–language forms and pragmatic behaviors were weighted evenly, particularly for positive descriptions. Additionally, many CWS expressed reservations in describing themselves as “good talkers,” whereas their fluent peers provided mainly positive appraisals of their own talking abilities. Outcomes provide evidence that early conceptions of communicative abilities among CWS are influenced by their stuttering experiences and diverge from early communicative ability conceptions among their fluent peers. Educational objectives: The reader will learn about and be able to; (1) recognize the relevance of examining communicative ability conceptions among children who stutter within the context of educational research on ability conceptions in children; (2) identify qualitative methods used to analyze interviews with participants; and (3) appreciate the role of personal experiences in shaping communicative ability conceptions among children who stutter.
Are we aggressive enough in lowering cholesterol

Abstract To date, 5 major randomized, placebo-controlled statin trials—the Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study, West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study, Cholesterol and Recurrent Events trial, Long-term Intervention with Pravastatin in Ischaemic Disease, and Air Force/Texas Coronary Atherosclerosis Prevention Study—have convincingly shown that total mortality and major coronary events can be significantly reduced by lowering levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) with statin therapy. These results were achieved in a broad range of patients including those with and without a history of coronary artery disease and with elevated or average LDL-C levels. The results also support the large body of epidemiologic evidence demonstrating that the lower the cholesterol level, the lower the cardiovascular risk. Evidence now substantially supports the urgency of physicians to aggressively target the lowering of LDL-C levels for the primary and secondary prevention of coronary disease.
The influence of global cues and local coupling on the rate of synchronization in the presence of time delays

The influence of global cues and local coupling on the rate of synchronization is analyzed in the presence of delayed interaction. First we give a delay-dependent synchronization condition. Then we prove that a stronger global cue always leads to a faster synchronization rate, even when it is only connected to a small number of nodes and the time delays in different channels are nonidentical. The local coupling is proven to have no influence on the synchronization rate when the global cue affects the whole network uniformly and delays in different channels are identical and small. This points out a way to elucidate complex synchronization properties in, e.g., biological networks. At last, using a published software DDE-BIFTOOL, synchronization rates are numerically calculated in the case study to confirm the theoretical predictions.
The role of laser wavelength on dual pulse laser-breakdown spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) provides multi-elemental in-situ sample analysis down to trace concentrations for many elements, including most light elements (H, C, O, N). The LIBS technique is useful for a variety of applications including elemental analysis, detecting airborne biological agents, quantitative analysis of aerosols, etc. Although LIBS is suited for various applications, this technique possesses a lower sensitivity and precision than the other forms of elemental analysis, such as ICP-MS. Improving the sensitivity of LIBS can be achieved by either enhancing the signal strength or reducing the background noise. Double-pulse (DP) excitation is more promising among the various methods proposed for improving the detection sensitivity of LIBS. The term “double-pulse” refers to two laser pulses used for LIBS excitation, each separated by delay time ranging from a few nanoseconds to several microseconds. It has been recently noticed that a combination of UV and NIR wavelengths in double pulse experiments provides significantly higher sensitivities compared to same wavelength DP experiments [1]. We used a combination of Nd:YAG (both fundamental and harmonics) and a TEA CO 2 laser to improve the sensitivity of LIBS. The role of wavelengths, the delay times, and energies of the preheating and reheating pulses on the LIBS sensitivity improvements are studied and discussed.
Fusing Electromagnetic education in small Liberal Arts Colleges: Preliminary experience from Trinity College

Rather than segregating engineering from the arts and humanities, the wisdom of engineering education in small Liberal Arts College environments has achieved significant national attention recently [1–3]. The discussion has received great attention, especially after the establishment of Smith College's engineering program, the first of its kind in a women's Liberal Arts College.
Peer relations of hearing-impaired adolescents.

Compared peer relations of hearing-impaired adolescents (n = 35) with those of hearing adolescents (n = 35) based on reports from mothers, fathers, and adolescents. Dependent measures included the emotional bonding, aggression, and social maturity subscales of the Missouri Peer Relations Inventory, the socialized aggression subscale from the Revised Behavior Problem Checklist and the activities and social subscales of the Child Behavior Checklist. Analyses showed that parents of hearing-impaired youths rated their adolescents' friendships as relatively high in aggression, but hearing-impaired adolescents rated their behavior with friends as relatively low in aggression. These findings were interpreted in light of recent research regarding the cognitive biases of aggressive hearing children. Mothers of hearing-impaired youths also rated their adolescents' friendships as lower in emotional bonding than did mothers of hearing adolescents. Language: en
Contrasting genetic structures in sister species of North American scrub-jays

Threatened Florida scrub–jays ( Aphelocoma coerulescens breed communally, are restricted to xeric sandy scrub habitat, generally disperse fewer than three territory diameters. Closely related Western scrub–jays ( A. californica ) do not breed communally, have a broader habitat range, disperse greater distances, and are not threatened. We compared the genetic structure of 445 individuals in 11 populations in Florida with 157 individuals in eight populations of Western scrub–jays. At ten microsatellite loci, Florida had 24 out of 47 total alleles, while Western scrub–jays had 44. The Florida populations were more differentiated ( G ST = 0.048) than were a set of five California populations ( G ST = 0.015). A randomization extension of a Mantel test showed a stronger correlation between geographic and Cavalli–Sforza genetic distances among Western than Florida populations. Neighbour–joining trees clustered Florida populations from the same sandy ridge systems, suggesting that habitat continuity is more important than geographic proximity in allowing gene flow and preventing differentiation. For Western populations, isolation by distance appears to be the major determinant of genetic structure. Our results suggest that contrasting genetic structures may arise between closely related species, as a result of differences in ecology and social system. Conserving extant genetic variation in Florida jays will require maintaining viable populations in each of the major sandy ridge systems.
Hybrid organic/inorganic coatings for abrasion resistance on plastic and metal substrates

Novel abrasion resistant coatings have been successfully prepared by the sol-gel method. These materials are spin coated onto bisphenol-A polycarbonate, diallyl diglycol carbonate resin (CR-39) sheet, aluminum, and steel substrates and are thermally cured to obtain a transparent coating of a few microns in thickness. Following the curing, the abrasion resistance is measured and compared with an uncoated control. It was found that these hybrid organic/inorganic networks partially afford excellent abrasion resistance to the polycarbonate substrates investigated. In addition to having excellent abrasion resistance comparable to current commercial coatings, some newly developed systems are also UV resistant. Similar coating formulations applied to metals can greatly improve the abrasion resistance despite the fact that the coatings are lower in density than their substrates.
Effect of mibefradil on sodium and calcium currents

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) generate the electrical slow wave. The ionic conductances that contribute to the slow wave appear to vary among species. In humans, a tetrodotoxin-resistant Na+ cu...
Impaired NO-dependent dilation of skeletal muscle arterioles in hypertensive diabetic obese Zucker rats

This study determined alterations to nitric oxide (NO)-dependent dilation of skeletal muscle arterioles from obese (OZR) versus lean Zucker rats (LZR). In situ cremaster muscle arterioles from both groups were viewed via television microscopy, and vessel dilation was measured with a video micrometer. Arteriolar dilation to acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside was reduced in OZR versus LZR, although dilation to aprikalim was unaltered. NO-dependent flow-induced arteriolar dilation (via parallel microvessel occlusion) was attenuated in OZR, impairing arteriolar ability to regulate wall shear rate. Vascular superoxide levels, as assessed by dihydroethidine fluorescence, were elevated in OZR versus LZR. Treatment of cremaster muscles of OZR with the superoxide scavengers polyethylene glycol-superoxide dismutase and catalase improved arteriolar dilation to acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside and restored flow-induced dilation and microvascular ability to regulate wall shear rate. These results suggest that NO-dependent dilation of skeletal muscle microvessels in OZR is impaired due to increased levels of superoxide. Taken together, these data suggest that the development of diabetes and hypertension in OZR may be associated with an impaired skeletal muscle perfusion via an elevated vascular oxidant stress.
Depletion of cystine in cystinotic fibroblasts by homocysteine: Synergism of cysteamine with various reducing agents in depletion of cystine from cystinotic fibroblasts

The present study shows that homocysteine depleted cystine from cystinotic fibroblasts in vitro. No toxic effects were noted as judged by morphology and growth patterns. Efflux of radioactivity from cystinotic cells prelabeled with [35S]cystine was greater in homocysteine-treated cystinotic cells than in untreated controls. This radioactivity was found, by high voltage electrophoresis separation of effluxed products, to consist mainly of [35S]cystine, along with smaller amounts of [35S]homocysteine-cysteine mixed disulfide. When homocysteine and cysteamine were presented together to cystinotic cells at dose levels individually ineffective in removing cystine from these cells, a marked synergistic effect was observed and cystine content fell to 10% of that seen in untreated cystinotic fibroblasts. Similarly, synergistic effects of cystine depletion from cystinotic cells were demonstrated when cells were treated with a combination of cysteamine and dithiothreitol or glutathione. Incubation of cystinotic cells with homocysteine, dithiothreitol, or cysteamine in combination with vitamin C did not yield synergistic effects. The above findings suggest a novel way to probe metabolic processes in these mutant cells. Exploration of these synergistic effects may lead to more efficacious therapeutic protocols for cystinosis.
A hybrid shared-memory/space-division architecture for large fast packet switches

The authors explore the use of components of different architectural types to build a large fast packet switch. They introduce a hybrid architecture, referred to as the memory/space-division/memory (MSM) switching fabric, which integrates shared-memory and space-division switching techniques and makes it possible to build an efficient self-routing switch capable of serving several hundred users. This architecture has its origin in the tandem banyan switching fabric (TBSF). The TBSF and the limitations uncovered in each implementation are discussed. The basic configuration of the MSM and methods used to solve the shortcomings encountered in the TBSF are outlined. This architecture presents a simple structure, achieves high throughput under a wide variety of traffic conditions, and is easily expandable to support additional functionalities, such as burst switching, hybrid circuit/packet switching operation, and multicasting. >
Influence of Enterohepatic Recycling on the Time Course of Brain-to-Blood Partitioning of Valproic Acid in Rats

A widely used metric of substrate exposure in brain is the brain-to-serum partition coefficient (K(p,brain); C(brain)/C(serum)), most appropriately determined at distribution equilibrium between brain tissue and serum. In some cases, C(brain)/C(serum) can peak and then decrease, as opposed to monotonically increasing to a plateau, precluding accurate estimation of partitioning. This "overshoot" has been observed with compounds that undergo enterohepatic recycling (ER), such as valproic acid (VPA). Previous simulation experiments identified a relationship between overshoot in the C(brain)/C(serum) versus time profile and distribution into a peripheral "compartment" (e.g., the ER loop). This study was conducted to evaluate model predictions of that relationship. Initial experiments tested the ability of activated charcoal, antibiotics, or Mrp2 deficiency to impair VPA ER in rats, thereby limiting the apparent volume of distribution associated with ER. Mrp2 deficiency (significantly) and antibiotics (moderately) interrupted VPA ER. Subsequently, brain partitioning was evaluated in the presence versus absence of ER modulation. Although overshoot was not eliminated completely, deconvolution revealed that overshoot was reduced in Mrp2-deficient and antibiotic-treated rats. Consistent with model predictions, overshoot was higher after antibiotic treatment (moderate ER interruption) than in Mrp2 deficiency (substantial ER interruption). Steady-state K(p,brain) was unaffected by experimental manipulation, also consistent with model predictions. These data support the hypothesis that C(brain)/C(serum) may overshoot K(p,brain) based on the extent of peripheral sequestration. Consideration of this information, particularly for compounds that undergo significant extravascular distribution, may be necessary to avoid erroneous estimation of K(p,brain).
The changing importance of romantic relationship involvement to competence from late childhood to late adolescence

Although developmental theorists such as Sullivan (1953) and Havighurst (1972) have suggested that the formation of romantic relationships in adolescence is an important developmental task, researchers of the adolescent “problem behavior syndrome” have documented that early sexual intercourse is related to problems with conduct, academics, and chemical use. In this study multiple measures of competence and romantic relationship involvement were obtained from a normative community sample of children and adolescents. These were used in path analyses to document the concurrent and longitudinal predictions of romantic involvement and competence to examine the concurrent and longitudinal linkages of romantic interest and involvement to four other domains of adaptive behavior. Results suggest that although success in romantic relationships has roots in general peer competence, there may be both deviant and prosocial pathways of initial romantic involvement. Early romantic involvement in late childhood and early to middle adolescence may have negative consequences for academic, job, and conduct domains of competence. Later in adolescence, romantic relationship involvement loses its negative significance, perhaps as it becomes a normative developmental task. Results highlight the need for developmental research on the origins and meaning of romantic relationships, one of the most neglected aspects of peer relationships.
Comparison of the effects of implanted and aqueous Cl on aluminum pitting behavior

A statistics-based mathematical treatment was used to compare the pitting behavior of Cl-implanted Al to the behavior of nonimplanted Al. Although pitting potentials for both types of samples fall within a similar potential range, the pit germination rates are much higher for the implanted samples. Differences in germination rates are attributed to the Cl adsorption/absorption and/or Cl migration processes that are bypassed by implanting Cl directly into the aluminum oxide.
Amines and motivated behaviors: a simpler systems approach to complex behavioral phenomena

Recent investigations in invertebrate neurobiology have opened up new lines of research into the basic roles of behavioral, neurochemical, and physiological effects in complex behavioral phenomena, such as aggression and drug-sensitive reward. This review summarizes a body of quantitative work, which identifies biogenic amines as a pharmacological substrate for motivated behaviors in the crayfish, Orconectes rusticus. Specifically, this paper details progress that has (1) explored links between serotonin and an individual’s aggressive state, and (2) demonstrated the existence of crayfish reward systems that are sensitive to human drugs of abuse, such as psychostimulants. First, we summarize a set of experimental approaches that explore aggression in crayfish and the significance of aminergic systems in its control. Agonistic behavior in crustaceans can be characterized within a quantitative framework; different types of behavioral plasticity in aggressive behavior are in need of physiological explanation, and pharmacological intervention involving serotonergic systems bring about characteristic changes in behavior. A second set of experiments demonstrates that psychostimulants (cocaine and D-amphetamine) serve as rewards when an intra-circulatory infusion is coupled to a distinct visual environment. Work in novel model systems such as crayfish constitutes a useful comparative approach to the study of aggression and drug addiction.
Influence of dopant ion and synthesis variables on mechanical properties of polypyrrole films

Oxidized, conductive poly(pyrrolylium anion) films [poly(pyrrolylium) = PP+ where there exists about one cation per three pyrrole rings] have been prepared electrochemically in an effort to study the effect of counteranion structure and preparation conditions on the composition, order (crystallinity), and mechanical properties of the films. The counteranion principally employed was p-toluene-sulfonate (OTs−), although benzenesulfonate (BZs−), p-ethylbenzene-sulfonate (EBs−), and p-dodecylbenzenesulfonate (DBs−) were incorporated in several polypyrrole films. It was found that the amount of OTs− incorporated increased with increasing potential during synthesis, suggesting a parallel increase in the extent of oxidation of the polymer. Mechanical testing of the same films demonstrated that the ultimate tensile strength decreased as the electrode potential and current density during synthesis increased. X-ray diffraction indicated that the degree of order (reflected by the widths of the diffraction lines), albeit quite small, is dependent upon the anion species and synthesis conditions. Interestingly, samples with the highest degree of order exhibit the highest electrical conductivities.
Antihemophilic factor (AHF): plasma levels after administration of AHF preparations to hemophilic dogs.

Summary1. The plasma tide of AHF was measured after subcutaneous and intramuscular injections of bovine AHF fractions into hemophilic dogs. Better results were obtained with intramuscular than with subcutaneous administration; higher plasma AHF levels were maintained for longer times. Citrate in adequate concentration in the AHF solutions appeared to have an adjuvant action. 2. The rate of fall off of plasma AHF was followed after moderate levels of this clotting factor had been maintained for several hours. It is suggested that the biologic half-life of AHF in the dog may be at least 23 hours.
Music in the Myth of Venice

Historians have long been fascinated by the ‘myth of Venice’: the phenomenon of a single state acquiring and sustaining a reputation, often at obvious variance with reality, that would serve not only the propaganda goals of the state itself but even as an influential political model for others. Although there are several aspects to this myth, they all focus on the perfection of the Venetian Republic, its uniqueness and virtu. The official epithet, la Serenissima, epitomized the image of this splendid city, founded miraculously upon the waters, unwalled yet unconquered for more than a millennium, remarkably undisturbed by internal strife. Petrarch's wellknown panegyric expresses a generally held view of Venice: ‘a city rich in gold but richer in renown, mighty in works but mightier in virtue, founded on solid marble but established on the more solid foundations of civic concord, surrounded by the salty waves but secure through her saltier councils.’
UV-absorption spectra of melanosomes containing varying 5,6-dihydroxyindole and 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid content.

Central to understanding the photochemical properties of melanosomes is a direct measurement of their absorption coefficients. Herein, the absorption spectra of intact melanosomes of varying molecu...
Size constancy in catatonia.

Size matches were made by catatonic and non-catatonic schizophrenics at observation distances from 10 to 120 ft. The matches for both groups were identical with each other and with matches made in a previous study by normals. The data are in good agreement with a prediction based on the law of size constancy. It was concluded that size matching behavior for neutral objects in a simple matching task is not affected by schizophrenia.
Cockroach distribution and density on different types of passenger trains

Objective To determine the habits and distribution patterns of cockroaches on different types of passenger trains for effective cockroach prevention and control life in these environments.Methods The number of cockroaches crawling out or knocked off in 10 minutes after pesticide spray was recorded to calculate the infestation rate and average density.Results The average infestation rate was 27.7%,as shown in descending order as follows:Series 22(45.5%)25B(37.7%)25G(24.2%)SYZ25B(16.7%)25K(7.4%) and CA(90.0%)YZ(32.3%)YW(17.1%)RW(5.0%).The average density was 2.51 roach per compartment,as shown in descending order as follows:Series 22(4.58)25B(3.75)25G(2.01)SYZ25B(1.17)25K(0.43) and CA(6.35)YZ(3.51)YW(1.30)RW(0.15).The perching positions were mainly the four corners of a compartment,the crew room,the storage room,the electric motor of refrigerator,ventilations beneath the kitchen and the distribution room.Cockroaches were also seen at the light boxes in the washrooms and ventilation holes at the compartment roof.Conclusion The passenger trains are heavily infested with cockroaches.Cockroaches have been found at the light boxes in washrooms,ventilation holes at the roof,middle bunks and other higher positions,varying on different types of trains.Those positions and other hiding places such as the distribution room should be specifically investigated during cockroach control.Pesticide spray and gel baits are effective control measures.
Determination of procyanidins in health foods by direct ultraviolet spectrophotometry

Objective:To establish a method for the determination of the content of procyanidins in health foods.Methods:Alcoholysis of grape procyanidins under hot acidic conditions can produce anthocyanidin,which,for its reducibility,presents characteristic red color under catalysis of iron salts.The absorption value of the sample solution was measured at 550 nm by ultraviolet spectrophotometry.Results:The calibration curve of the absorbency was linear with the concentration of procyanidins RS in the range of 10.71~160.66 μg/ml(r=0.9991).The average recovery was 95.03% and the RSD 1.67%.Conclusion:The method is accurate,sensitive,quick and cost-effective and can be used to determine procyanidins in health foods.
Supplementary Damping Control of TCSC for Subsynchronous Oscillation Based on Local Measured Signal

The devices of flexible AC transmission system(FACTS) are applied in power systems increasingly.This may result in subsynchronous oscillations.Intensive oscillation will lead to serious damage on generator rotor shaft,which poses a high risk on power system security.Supplementary impedance control method of thyristor controlled series compensation(TCSC),which is based on local measured impedance lifting coefficients,is used to damp subsynchronous oscillations.The effectiveness of this method is verified by a simulation example,which includes thermal power units in power system with TCSC.The simulation results show that this method is as effective as the method based on the angular speed deviation.As it is simple and easy to be realized,the method is suitable for engineering application in power system.
Predictors of self-perceived competency in cancer screening examinations.

BACKGROUND Factors contributing to medical students' self-perceived competency in cancer screening examinations have not been well studied. METHODS Ending third-year students of UCLA Medical School were surveyed to assess their self-perceived competency and training in performing clinical breast, Pap smear, digital rectal, and skin cancer examinations. Analysis of variance was conducted to compare the differences in competency ratings. Multiple regression analysis was applied to identify predictors of competency. RESULTS Fifty-two (67%) of the 78 third-year medical students sampled participated in the study. They reported being least (p < 0.001) competent in performing skin cancer examinations. The number of times practicing screening examinations was the most significant (p < 0.001) educational predictor for self-reported competency in every area except skin cancer. More practice is needed in each screening exam before students feel somewhat or extremely competent. CONCLUSION Student hands-on experience is crucial in the development of cancer screening competency.
Protein Kinase C Regulation by Diacylglycerols: Structure-Function Relationships and Mechanism

A mixed micellar assay for protein kinase C was developed to investigate the specificity and stoichiometry of activation by phospholipids, diacylglycerols, and diacylglycerol analogues. Triton X-100 micelles containing 8 mol% phosphatidylserine (PS) and 2.5 mol% sn-1,2-dioleoylglycerol (diC18:1) activated rat brain protein kinase C in the presence of Ca2+ to the same degree as sonicated PS/diC18:1. Protein kinase C activity was almost totally dependent on diC18:1 in the mixed micellar assay. At 8 mol% PS, diC18:1 stimulated maximally at 1 mol%. At 2.5 mol% diC18:1, PS did not activate until 3 mol% and then did so cooperatively with maximal stimulation occurring at 6–8 mol%. Molecular sieve chromatography demonstrated that monomeric protein kinase C interacts with Triton X-100 micelles in a PS and Ca2+ dependent manner. Interpretations follow: 1) a single molecule of diC18:1 activates monomeric protein kinase C; 2) a phospholipid bilayer is not required; 3) four or more molecules of PS are required. In addition, several diacylglycerol analogues were synthesized to determine the exact structural features required for activation. The data suggest that both carbonyls of the oxygen esters and the 3-hydroxyl are required. A model of protein kinase C activation by PS and diacylglycerol was formulated.
Increasing Mail Survey Response Rates

One of the most frequently used techniques for collecting primary data from individuals is the mail survey. A major obstacle to success, however, is obtaining an acceptable rate of response to the mail survey. This paper examines some tactical considerations in the development of a research strategy designed to generate adequate response rates for mail surveys.
Guidance for the Design and Adoption of Analytic Tools.

The goal is to make software developers aware of common issues that can impede the adoption of analytic tools. This paper provides a summary of guidelines, lessons learned and existing research to explain what is currently known about what analysts want and how to better understand what tools they do and don't need.
Abstract Martingales and Ergodic Theory

Publisher Summary It was felt for a long time that martingales and ergodic theory, being essentially theories of integration in infinitely many variables, should be obtainable from a single structure. There are many similarities in form and in proofs of the main theorems in both cases for this expectation. In this chapter, the main attempts at unification and the results thus obtained are discussed to clarify the problem and to illuminate the difficulties involved. In the past, there have been three different approaches in attempting to solve that problem. The earliest one is a formulation of the key ergodic sequences as martingales on suitable measure spaces, which are typically nonfinite. The next approach is to devise a family of operators on certain function spaces, such as the Lp spaces, for which the desired limit theorems can be proved and from which one can deduce both the martingale and ergodic theorems by an appropriate specialization of these operators. The third approach is the observation that the proofs of both the martingale convergence and ergodic theorems depend on a maximal. Tulcea and Tulcea have established a general inequality capable of including both these results by specialization. Now the main theorems can be obtained with its help. The chapter discusses the diverse nature of these methods and presents the difficulties involved in the unification of these two seemingly intimate problems.
TTIP und die transatlantischen Beziehungen in einer geo-ökonomischen Weltordnung

Der Beitrag rekonstruiert zentrale Begrundungsmuster fur die transatlantischen Beziehungen und das transatlantische Freihandelsabkommen (TTIP) aus Sicht der deutschen Bundesregierung. Dabei wird argumentiert, dass TTIP insbesondere vor dem Hintergrund eines befurchteten Macht- und Bedeutungsverlusts Europas und des Westens gegenuber wirtschaftlich wachsenden und international an Einfluss gewinnenden Volkswirtschaften als geookonomisches, weltordnungspolitisches und in diesem Sinne als machtstrategisches Instrument verstanden wird. Dies steht in einem engen Zusammenhang zu den ebenfalls rekonstruierten Vorstellungen von Weltordnung, ihrer Multipolaritat und ihrem Wandel.
What's statistical about learning? Insights from modelling statistical learning as a set of memory processes

Statistical learning has been studied in a variety of different tasks, including word segmentation, object identification, category learning, artificial grammar learning and serial reaction time tasks (e.g. Saffran et al. 1996 Science 274 , 1926–1928; Orban et al. 2008 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 105 , 2745–2750; Thiessen & Yee 2010 Child Development 81 , 1287–1303; Saffran 2002 Journal of Memory and Language 47 , 172–196; Misyak & Christiansen 2012 Language Learning 62 , 302–331). The difference among these tasks raises questions about whether they all depend on the same kinds of underlying processes and computations, or whether they are tapping into different underlying mechanisms. Prior theoretical approaches to statistical learning have often tried to explain or model learning in a single task. However, in many cases these approaches appear inadequate to explain performance in multiple tasks. For example, explaining word segmentation via the computation of sequential statistics (such as transitional probability) provides little insight into the nature of sensitivity to regularities among simultaneously presented features. In this article, we will present a formal computational approach that we believe is a good candidate to provide a unifying framework to explore and explain learning in a wide variety of statistical learning tasks. This framework suggests that statistical learning arises from a set of processes that are inherent in memory systems, including activation, interference, integration of information and forgetting (e.g. Perruchet & Vinter 1998 Journal of Memory and Language 39 , 246–263; Thiessen et al. 2013 Psychological Bulletin 139 , 792–814). From this perspective, statistical learning does not involve explicit computation of statistics, but rather the extraction of elements of the input into memory traces, and subsequent integration across those memory traces that emphasize consistent information (Thiessen and Pavlik 2013 Cognitive Science 37 , 310–343). This article is part of the themed issue ‘New frontiers for statistical learning in the cognitive sciences'.
Information and entropic force: physical description of biological cells, chemical reaction kinetics, and information theory

Chemical reaction kinetics and information theory, as continuous developments of the methodologies and thinkings originating in physics, have played prominent roles in describing the behaviors, logics, and functions of individual biological cells. Based on a recently developed unifying theory of mesoscopic chemical kinetics and Gibbsian macroscopic chemical thermodynamics, this paper attempts to discuss both chemical kinetics and information theory in the single framework of nonlinear, stochastic dynamical systems, and proposes the hypothesis that information is a form of entropy force.
Microwave-Induced Thermoacoustic Imaging of Subcutaneous Vasculature With Near-Field RF Excitation

Imaging of subcutaneous vasculature is of great interest for biometric security and point-of-care medicine. We investigate the feasibility of microwave-induced thermoacoustic (TA) tomography as a safe, compact, low-power, and cost-effective imaging technique for subcutaneous vasculature by means of application-specific design of near-field, radio frequency (RF) applicators. Using commercial transducers, we demonstrate proof-of-concept TA imaging of synthetic phantoms, plant vasculature, and earthworm blood vessels with only 50 W of peak power, or 42 mW average power, at 300 $\mu \text{m}$ resolution. The proposed RF applicator design enabled uniform, orientation-independent illumination of vasculature phantoms with only 10% variation. Finally, we show that the benefits of microwave contrast make possible the distinction of actual blood vessels, in an earthworm, from surrounding tissue within a modest receiver dynamic range of 40 dB.
A Case for the Protection of Saline and Hypersaline Environments: A Microbiological Perspective

Saline and hypersaline environments are known for their unique geochemical properties, microbial populations and aesthetic appeal. Microbial activities and a spectrum of diversity seen in hypersaline environments are distinct with many novel species being identified and reported on a regular basis. Many distinguishing characteristics about the adaptation, morphology, evolutionary history, and potential environmental and biotechnological applications of these organisms are continually investigated. An abundance of interdisciplinary activities and opportunities exist to explore and understand the importance of these environments that potentially hold promising solutions for current and future global issues. Therefore, it is critical to conserve these unique environments and limit the damage inflicted by anthropogenic influences. Increased salinization due to water diversions, undesired freshening, extensive mineral extraction, sewage effluents, pollution due to agricultural runoff and industrial processes, urbanization, and global climate change are factors negatively affecting hypersaline lakes and their surrounding environments. If these harmful effects continue to proceed at the current or even accelerated rates, irrevocable consequences for these environments will occur, resulting in the loss of potential opportunities to gain new knowledge of the biogeochemistry as well as beneficial microbial populations closely associated with these unique and interesting environments.
Total Pancreatectomy and Islet Autotransplant in the Treatment of Chronic Pancreatitis: Tread Very, Very Carefully.

Total Pancreatectomy and Islet Autotransplant in the Treatment of Chronic Pancreatitis: Tread Very, Very Carefully
Comparative sensitivity of quantitative EEG (QEEG) spectrograms for detecting seizure subtypes

Abstract Purpose To assess the sensitivity of Persyst version 12 QEEG spectrograms to detect focal, focal with secondarily generalized, and generalized onset seizures. Methods A cohort of 562 seizures from 58 patients was analyzed. Successive recordings with 2 or more seizures during continuous EEG monitoring for clinical indications in the ICU or EMU between July 2016 and January 2017 were included. Patient ages ranged from 5 to 64 years (mean = 36 years). There were 125 focal seizures, 187 secondarily generalized and 250 generalized seizures from 58 patients analyzed. Seizures were identified and classified independently by two epileptologists. A correlate to the seizure pattern in the raw EEG was sought in the QEEG spectrograms in 4–6 h EEG epochs surrounding the identified seizures. A given spectrogram was interpreted as indicating a seizure, if at the time of a seizure it showed a visually significant departure from the pre-event baseline. Sensitivities for seizure detection using each spectrogram were determined for each seizure subtype. Results Overall sensitivities of the QEEG spectrograms for detecting seizures ranged from 43% to 72%, with highest sensitivity (402/562,72%) by the seizure detection trend. The asymmetry spectrogram had the highest sensitivity for detecting focal seizures (117/125,94%). The FFT spectrogram was most sensitive for detecting secondarily generalized seizures (158/187, 84%). The seizure detection trend was the most sensitive for generalized onset seizures (197/250,79%). Conclusions Our study suggests that different seizure types have specific patterns in the Persyst QEEG spectrograms. Identifying these patterns in the EEG can significantly increase the sensitivity for seizure identification.
Comments on the teaching of chemistry, doing chemistry demonstrations, and a passion for chemical thermodynamics

Abstract The first part of this essay deals with interesting and effective and fun ways to teach chemistry. The second part is concerned with does and don’ts in chemistry demonstrations, i.e., how you and the audience can have fun and learn at the same time. The last part is a discussion of what it is that fascinates me in chemical thermodynamics.
A closer look: College students’ exposure to suicide and intention to intervene

Abstract To examine college students’ exposure to suicide (i.e., knowing someone who attempted or died by suicide) and intention to intervene, 769 completed an online survey. A majority of the sample (69%) were exposed to suicide. When exposure was examined alone using an Independent Samples t-test there was not a statistical difference in overall intention to intervene. Suicide experience, sex, race, and age were considered in addition to suicide exposure in a one-way Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). The overall model was significant. Follow-up tests indicated that previous suicide exposure and previous personal suicide attempts did not affect one's intention to intervene. However, prior suicide intervention experience, sex, and race did have a statistically significant impact on intention to intervene. Additionally, individual intervention behaviors were examined to better understand what specific actions individuals intend to perform related to suicide exposure. The Multiple Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) results suggested a general trend that women, white individuals, and those with previous intervention experience were likely to perform four intervention behaviors: (1) tell someone who is suicidal I am concerned about him or her, (2) I would intervene in some way, (3) encourage the person who is suicidal to seek help from a professional, and (4) tell the person to stop being dramatic (reverse coded).
Coherent calibration cancellation for stepped frequency radar systems

A short range Ultra Wide Band Stepped Frequency Continuous Wave Radar with active hardware cancellation for in-system coupling is presented. The system compensates for the three main coupling paths: antenna crosstalk, transmit-receive line/amplifier coupling, and mixer isolation. Those have been determined to be the primary aggressors, though all system coupling paths will be eliminated. This hardware cancellation approach eliminates system non-idealities and extends the dynamic range relative to a typical coherent-change-detection (CCD) design. The system described has been built for the 22.5GHz-26.5GHz range and tested to validate operation. The calibration technique demonstrates increasing the dynamic range of the system by up to 40dB.
Energy-efficient computing for mobile signal processing

Mobile devices have rapidly proliferated, and deployment of handheld devices continues to increase at a spectacular rate. As today's devices not only support advanced signal processing of wireless communication data but also provide rich sets of applications, contemporary mobile computing requires both demanding computation and efficiency. Most mobile processors combine general-purpose processors, digital signal processors, and hardwired application-specific integrated circuits to satisfy their high-performance and low-power requirements. However, such a heterogeneous platform is inefficient in area, power and programmability. Improving the efficiency of programmable mobile systems is a critical challenge and an active area of computer systems research. SIMD (single instruction multiple data) architectures are very effective for data-level-parallelism intense algorithms in mobile signal processing. However, new characteristics of advanced wireless/multimedia algorithms require architectural re-evaluation to achieve better energy efficiency. Therefore, fourth generation wireless protocol and high definition mobile video algorithms are analyzed to enhance a wide-SIMD architecture. The key enhancements include 1) programmable crossbar to support complex data alignment, 2) SIMD partitioning to support fine-grain SIMD computation, and 3) fused operation to support accelerating frequently used instruction pairs. Near-threshold computation has been attractive in low-power architecture research because it balances performance and power. To further improve energy efficiency in mobile computing, near-threshold computation is applied to a wide SIMD architecture. This proposed near-threshold wide SIMD architecture—Diet SODA—presents interesting architectural design decisions such as 1) very wide SIMD datapath to compensate for degraded performance induced by near-threshold computation and 2) scatter-gather data prefetcher to exploit large latency gap between memory and the SIMD datapath. Although near-threshold computation provides excellent energy efficiency, it suffers from increased delay variations. A systematic study of delay variations in near-threshold computing is performed and simple techniques—structural duplication and voltage/frequency margining—are explored to tolerate and mitigate the delay variations in near-threshold wide SIMD architectures. This dissertation analyzes representative wireless/multimedia mobile signal processing algorithms, proposes an energy-efficient programmable platform, and evaluates performance and power. A main theme of this dissertation is that the performance and efficiency of programmable embedded systems can be significantly improved with a combination of parallel SIMD and near-threshold computations.
An ELLAM Scheme for Porous Medium Flows

An Eulerian-Lagrangian localized adjoint method (ELLAM) is presented for coupled systems of fluid flow processes occurring in porous media with point sources and sinks. The ELLAM scheme symmetrizes the governing transport equation, greatly eliminates non-physical oscillation and/or excessive numerical dispersion present in many large-scale simulators widely used in industrial applications. It can treat large mobility ratios, discontinuous permeabilities and porosities, anisotropic dispersion in tensor form, and point sources and sinks. It also conserves mass. Numerical experiments are presented. The relationship between ELLAM and discontinuous Galerkin methods (DGMs), and the possibility of developing a hybrid ELLAM-DGM scheme are discussed.
Directed Graphs and Conditional Independence

A directed graph consists of a set of nodes with arrows between some nodes. An example is shown in Figure 17.1.
MECHANISM OF SURFACE MEMBRANE EXPRESSION IN MURINE B-LYMPHOCYTE CELL LINES

ABSTRACT Two murine B lymphomas adapted to culture do not express mature B-lymphocyte properties, but have cytoplasmic immunoglobulin (Ig) and can be induced for surface Ig by incubation with LPS and dextran sulfate (DxS). Line 70Z/3 and clone 12 are also enhanced in binding of mouse antibody-coated RBC (EA-Mo) by LPS but not DxS. Binding of rabbit antibody-coated RBC remains low under all conditions tested. Another clone, 70Z/3.1, retains sensitivity to DxS, but cannot be induced for sIg by LPS. Induction of surface μ chains by LPS is not blocked by toxic concentrations of actinomycin D, cordycepin, puromycin, or cycloheximide, indicating new RNA and protein synthesis may not be necessary for sIg expression in these cells. However, expression of k chains is inhibited under these conditions. BUdR or actinomycin D alone induces EA-Mo binding but not sIg. These results show that two different mitogens can act on the same B cell and that mitogen receptors are present prior to surface Ig expression. These cell lines may be useful models for studying the pre-B to early B-lymphocyte transition process.
A comparative study of citations to chemical encyclopedias in scholarly articles: Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology and Ullmann’s Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry

Subject encyclopedias have long been regarded as authoritative reference works that contain credible and reliable information on a subject area or discipline for use by scholars and researchers. In the digital age, when subject-specific information is readily accessible online for free or through a subscription-based resource, researchers may no longer rely on standard reference sources such as subject encyclopedias. To determine whether subject encyclopedias are used in research, a citation analysis study was conducted using two of the best-known subject encyclopedias relevant to chemists and chemical engineers: the Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology and Ullmann’s Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Citations to each encyclopedia were obtained from the Science Citation Index Expanded in Web of Science (WoS) from 2000 to 2015 (inclusive) and compared by document type. Article citations to these encyclopedias were compared by year, journal, country of publication, organizational affiliations, and WoS subject category. Over the sixteen-year period, citations to both encyclopedias have doubled from 943 to 1876 peer-reviewed articles. The study supports the view that such long-standing reference sources are still needed for research and valued by the scientific community despite the availability of online resources. The study used VOSviewer to analyze and compare the key terms in the title and abstract of all articles citing each encyclopedia. This analysis revealed sub-disciplinary differences in the use of the two encyclopedias.