cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Information Disclosure for Deception

We analyze in this paper how a deceptive information provider can shape the shared information in order to control a decision maker's decisions. Data-driven engineering applications, e.g., machine learning and artificial intelligence, build on information. However, this implies that information (and correspondingly information providers) can have influential impact on the decisions made. Notably, the information providers can be deceptive such that they can benefit, while the decision makers suffer, from the strategically shaped information. We formulate (and provide an algorithm to compute) the optimal deceptive shaping policies in the multi-stage disclosure of, general, multi-dimensional Gauss-Markov information. To be able to deceive the decision maker, the information provider should anticipate the decision maker's reaction while facing a trade-off between deceiving at the current stage and the ability to deceive in the future stages. We show that optimal shaping policies are linear within the general class of Borel-measurable policies even though the information provider and the decision maker could be seeking to minimize quite different quadratic cost functions.
India CRO (Compulsory Regulatory Order) Movements

India plays an important role in Asia as it has the world’s 2nd biggest population and resources. As per a study by Gartner, it is projected that India will be the second largest information technology market in the Asia Pacific region overriding Australia and behind only China by 2018. With the increasing market size, there has been a steep increase in import of sub-standard / poor quality electronic goods into the Indian market. In order to take care of this issue, the Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY), in September 2012, started the Compulsory Registration Order (CRO). The scheme came into effect on July 3, 2013.This effective date later on delayed 3months to July 3 then probation period is added 6 months to January 3, 2014. The DietY has been recently re-named as the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY). MeitY is the nodal authority who issues the standard and regulations including monitoring the product scope Bureau of India Standards (BIS) is the authority that executes the policy defined by MeitY and issues the registration for products in scope. We will talk further about how India regulatory standard (IS13252 (Part 1):2010 for ITE equipment) is different from the international norm (IEC60950) and the challenges faced by the industry in complying with the CRO.
Personalized Learning in a Virtual Hands-on Lab Platform for Computer Science Education

This Innovate Practice full paper presents a cloud-based personalized learning lab platform. Personalized learning is gaining popularity in online computer science education due to its characteristics of pacing the learning progress and adapting the instructional approach to each individual learner from a diverse background. Among various instructional methods in computer science education, hands-on labs have unique requirements of understanding learner’s behavior and assessing learner’s performance for personalization. However, it is rarely addressed in existing research. In this paper, we propose a personalized learning platform called ThoTh Lab specifically designed for computer science hands-on labs in a cloud environment. ThoTh Lab can identify the learning style from student activities and adapt learning material accordingly. With the awareness of student learning styles, instructors are able to use techniques more suitable for the specific student, and hence, improve the speed and quality of the learning process. With that in mind, ThoTh Lab also provides student performance prediction, which allows the instructors to change the learning progress and take other measurements to help the students timely. For example, instructors may provide more detailed instructions to help slow starters, while assigning more challenging labs to those quick learners in the same class. To evaluate ThoTh Lab, we conducted an experiment and collected data from an upper-division cybersecurity class for undergraduate students at Arizona State University in the US. The results show that ThoTh Lab can identify learning style with reasonable accuracy. By leveraging the personalized lab platform for a senior level cybersecurity course, our lab-use study also shows that the presented solution improves students engagement with better understanding of lab assignments, spending more effort on hands-on projects, and thus greatly enhancing learning outcomes.
Measuring Postsecondary Achievement: Lessons from Large-Scale Assessments in the K-12 Sector

Interest in using large-scale standardized assessments in the postsecondary sector has been growing rapidly in recent years. However, our experience is still limited, and there is a serious dearth of research investigating the characteristics and effects of testing in the postsecondary sector. We have far more extensive experience with large-scale testing in the K-12 sector, particularly in the USA. In this paper, I discuss a number of important issues that have arisen in K-12 testing and explore their implications for testing in the postsecondary sector. These include mistaking the part for the whole, overstating comparability, adding functions to extant tests without sufficient justification or validation, Campbell’s Law, and unwarranted causal inference. All of these issues are relevant to assessment in the postsecondary sector, and some are more severe in that sector than in K-12 education. I end with recommendations for productive and appropriate uses of assessments in this sector.
Neuropilin-1 largely concentrates at cell junctions on endothelial cells separately from VEGFR-2

1087 Tuftsin is a short immunostimulatory peptide with the sequence TKPR whose receptor was reportedly restricted mainly to certain immune cells. We previously noted that tuftsin is very similar to the exon 8-encoded tail of VEGF and discovered that tuftsin and the tuftsin antagonist peptide TKPPR selectively bind to neuropilin-1 (NP-1), a dual receptor for VEGF and class 3 semaphorins on endothelial and receptor-positive tumor cells, competitively with VEGF. A radiolabeled tetrameric TKPPR molecule accumulated rapidly and substancially (5.2 % ID/g at 1 h) in a receptor-positive mouse xenograft model (PC-3 tumors) with low uptake in most other tissues excluding the kidneys. In contrast, a monomeric TKPPR probe produced only modest localization in PC-3 tumors, consistent with the much greater avidity of the tetramer for NP-1. One of neuropilin-1’s important roles is to act as a coreceptor for VEGF with VEGFR-2 on endothelial cells, greatly increasing the angiogenic signaling produced by VEGF. It is not clear however, whether this is the sole or even the main function of NP-1 on these cells. In new in vitro studies, we compared the cell-surface localization of VEGFR-2-targeted quantum dots (Qdots) and NP-1-targeted (TKPPR-conjugated) quantum dots. By using Qdots with non-overlapping emission spectra for each targeting molecule, the locations of both VEGFR-2 and NP-1 were simultaneously imaged on the same cultured endothelial cells. The VEGFR-2-targeted Qdots bound diffusely and mostly evenly on the surface of the endothelial cells. The NP-1-targeted Qdots, on the other hand, produced both a diffuse even-binding component as well as a much more abundant concentrated binding component at cell-cell contact points or on lateral edges and filapodial projections where endothelial cells were not in contact. This result is consistent with several recent publications suggesting roles for NP-1 in cell adhesion and migration, some of which are proposed to be at least partly independent of VEGFR-2. In addition, this result highlights the value of TKPPR and similar peptides as biological probes in studies of NP-1 function separate from their ability to deliver imaging and therapeutic moieties to sites with increased NP-1 expression, such as in cancer, angiogenesis, and inflammation.
Screening for posttraumatic stress disorder in ARDS survivors: validation of the Impact of Event Scale-6 (IES-6)

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms are common in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) survivors. Brief screening instruments are needed for clinical and research purposes. We evaluated internal consistency, external construct, and criterion validity of the Impact of Event Scale-6 (IES-6; 6 items) compared to the original Impact of Event Scale—Revised (IES-R; 22 items) and to the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) reference standard evaluation in ARDS survivors. This study is a secondary analysis from two independent multi-site, prospective studies of ARDS survivors. Measures of internal consistency, and external construct and criterion validity were evaluated. A total of 1001 ARDS survivors (51% female, 76% white, mean (SD) age 49 (14) years) were evaluated. The IES-6 demonstrated internal consistency over multiple time points up to 5 years after ARDS (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.96; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.94 to 0.97). The IES-6 demonstrated stronger correlations with related constructs (e.g., anxiety and depression; |r| = 0.32 to 0.52) and weaker correlations with unrelated constructs (e.g., physical function and healthcare utilization measures (|r| = 0.02 to 0.27). Criterion validity evaluation with the CAPS diagnosis of PTSD in a subsample of 60 participants yielded an area under receiver operating characteristic curve (95% CI) of 0.93 (0.86, 1.00), with an IES-6 cutoff score of 1.75 yielding 0.88 sensitivity and 0.85 specificity. The IES-6 is reliable and valid for screening for PTSD in ARDS survivors and may be useful in clinical and research settings.
Culture Moderates the Relation Between Income Inequality and Subjective Well-Being:

Liberal ideology promotes equality whereas conservative ideology justifies inequality. Four studies examined whether the liberal–conservative continuum moderates the relation between inequality and...
The potential utility of an opportunity-propensity framework for understanding individual and group differences in developmental outcomes: A retrospective progress report

Abstract The present paper explores the potential utility of Opportunity-Propensity (O-P) frameworks for explaining multiple developmental outcomes such as individual and group differences in the development of academic skills, language skills, and social skills. To illustrate the approach, the author summarizes the historical development of the O-P framework and describes several of the most important findings related to academic skills. It is argued that some of these findings, if verified in RCTs, challenge the assumptions of policymakers and could provide an explanation as to why so many educational reforms have not been successful in closing the achievement gap. The concluding section focuses on describing next steps in theory development that could eventually lead to the creation of intervention strategies that could be more likely to be successful than prior attempts, and provides suggestions for further research to (a) identify additional predictors of achievement, (b) develop more precise assessments of constructs, (c) more fully explore the mechanisms by which variables such as socio-economic status have their effects, and (d) develop O-P analyses of other developmental outcomes.
Detection of fuel-oxidizer explosives utilizing portable capillary electrophoresis with wipe-based sampling.

Portable analytical instrumentation that can provide an alarm indication for the presence of explosives and related components is critical for the identification of explosives-based hazards and threats. Many explosives incident reports involve an inorganic oxidizer-fuel mixture which can include pyrotechnics, fireworks, flash powders, black powders, black powder substitutes, and improvised or homemade explosives. A portable CE instrument with targeted analysis of common inorganic oxidizer ions, for example, chlorate, perchlorate, and nitrate, was used here as a rapid detection platform. Unlike frequently used gas-phase separation and detection instrumentation such as ion mobility spectrometry (IMS), an automated liquid extraction mechanism is required for CE separation using acetate paper sample collection wipes. Target inorganic oxidizers were inkjet-printed onto sample wipes to investigate instrument response relative to the collected analyte spatial distribution. Overall, analyte signal intensities increased with off-center sample deposition due to improved sample extraction from wipes and no change in response was observed for varied array distributions across wipes. The system demonstrated sub 200 ng detection limits for all target analytes, with further improvement when normalizing to an internal standard.
Retrospective case series of increased oral propranolol dosage for infantile hemangiomas

BACKGROUND Infantile hemangiomas (IH) are the most common benign tumor of infancy. Although oral propranolol is currently first-line therapy, optimal dosing for treatment of IH remains debated. We sought to identify hemangioma characteristics associated with poor response to standard dosing (2 mg/kg/d) and to assess the therapeutic benefit of higher dosing. METHODS Retrospective chart review was conducted of 559 patients with IH seen at Johns Hopkins between 2008 and 2018, of whom 245 (44%) were treated with propranolol. Baseline characteristics were compared between patients who received increased propranolol dosing (≥2.5 mg/kg/d) and those who remained on standard dose (2 mg/kg/d). Changes in the Hemangioma Activity Score (HAS) during the increased dosage period were scored by two trained, blinded pediatric dermatologists. RESULTS Of 245 patients, 204 (83%) received standard 2 mg/kg/d propranolol dosing while 41 (17%) received a higher dose of ≥2.5 mg/kg/d. The most common location of IH in both groups was the face. In the increased dosage group, 85.4% of IH were of mixed or deep morphology with a mean greatest diameter of 4.6 cm. IH requiring increased dosing received longer courses of propranolol (mean of 389 vs. 282 days, P < .001) and underwent higher rates of excision by plastic surgery (26.8% vs. 5.9%, P < .001). Mean change in HAS over the period with dosage ≥2.5 mg/kg/d was minimal (-0.70; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Most recalcitrant IH were located on the face, larger in diameter, and of mixed or deep morphology. Patients had little improvement in HAS score with increased propranolol dosing implemented late in the treatment course with over one-fourth ultimately receiving surgical excision.
Does emphasizing management bias decrease auditors’ sensitivity to measurement imprecision?

Abstract Both management bias and measurement imprecision threaten the accurate reporting of complex accounting estimates, yet audit policymakers and practitioners often place a strong emphasis on bias. I examine whether directing auditors’ attention towards management bias can come at the expense of insufficient auditor sensitivity to measurement imprecision, potentially threatening overall audit quality. My primary investigation, Study 1, finds that when managers’ explicit incentives to bias financial reports are relatively weaker, an imbalanced emphasis on bias causes auditor-like participants in a stylized setting to “lower their guard” to a greater extent than when environmental factors place a more balanced emphasis on bias and imprecision. Study 2 indicates that an imbalanced emphasis on imprecision does not similarly distract auditors from bias. Study 3 utilizes a more contextually rich setting and demonstrates that an imbalanced emphasis on bias prompts even professional auditors to neglect imprecision. Accordingly, this paper suggests that a balanced emphasis on both management bias and measurement imprecision can mitigate negative consequences of auditors focusing on the former and neglecting the latter.
Risk-averse bi-level stochastic network interdiction model for cyber-security risk management

Abstract This paper proposes a methodology to enable a risk-averse, resource constrained cyber network defender to optimally deploy security countermeasures that protect against potential attackers with an uncertain budget. The proposed methodology is based on a risk-averse bi-level stochastic network interdiction model on an attack graph–maps the potential attack paths of a cyber network–that minimizes the weighted sum of the expected maximum loss over all attack scenarios and the risk of substantially large losses. The conditional-value-at-risk measure is incorporated into the stochastic programming model to reduce the risk of substantially large losses. An exact algorithm is developed to solve the model as well as several acceleration techniques to improve the computational efficiency. Numerical experiments demonstrate that the acceleration techniques enable the solution of relatively large problems within a reasonable amount of time: simultaneously applying all the acceleration techniques reduces the average computation time of the basic algorithm by 71% for 100-node graphs. Using metrics called mean-risk value of stochastic solution and value of risk-aversion, computational results suggest that the stochastic risk-averse model provides substantially better network interdiction decision than the deterministic (ignores uncertainty) and risk-neutral models when 1) the distribution of attacker budget is heavy-right-tailed and 2) the defender is highly risk-averse.
A Unified Probabilistic Modeling Framework for Eukaryotic Transcription Based on Nascent RNA Sequencing Data

Nascent RNA sequencing protocols, such as GRO-seq and PRO-seq, are now widely used in the study of eukaryotic transcription, and these experimental techniques have given rise to a variety of statistical and machine-learning methods for data analysis. These computational methods, however, are generally designed to address specialized signal-processing or prediction tasks, rather than directly describing the dynamics of RNA polymerases as they move along the DNA template. Here, I introduce a general probabilistic model that describes the kinetics of transcription initiation, elongation, pause release, and termination, as well as the generation of sequencing read counts. I show that this generative model enables estimation of separate rates of initiation, pause-release, and termination, up to a proportionality constant. Furthermore, if applied to time-course data in a nonequilibrium setting, the model can be used to estimate elongation rates. This model additionally leads naturally to likelihood ratio tests for differences between genes, conditions, or species in various rates of interest. A version of the model in which read counts are assumed to be Poisson-distributed leads to convenient, closed-form solutions for parameter estimates and likelihood ratio tests. I present extensions to Bayesian inference and to a generalized linear model that can be used to discover genomic features associated with rates of elongation. Finally, I address technicalities concerning estimation of library size, normalization and sequencing replicates. Altogether, this modeling framework enables a unified treatment of many common tasks in the analysis of nascent RNA sequencing data.
An open-source solution for shape modeling and analysis of objects of challenging topologies

Shape analysis is an important and powerful tool in a wide variety of medical applications. Many shape analysis techniques require shape representations which are in correspondence. Unfortunately, popular techniques for generating shape representations do not handle objects with complex geometry or topology well, and those that do are not typically readily available for non-expert users. We describe a method for generating correspondences across a population of objects using a given template. We also describe its implementation and distribution via SlicerSALT, an open-source platform for making powerful shape analysis techniques more widely available and usable. Finally, we show results of this implementation on mouse femur data.
Event Reconstruction and Selection

This chapter is devoted to the reconstruction and selection of events used for this analysis. Section 2.1 details how we reconstruct the deposited energy of electron recoil events in XENON1T and summarizes the energy resolution of the detector. Section 2.2 focuses on the energy threshold for this analysis, making use of a combination of data-driven and pure simulation methods to extract a total detection efficiency as a function of reconstructed energy. Section 2.3 describes the selection of events used for this analysis and the signal acceptance of the applied cuts. The main results of this chapter provide understanding of how the XENON1T detector reconstructs events on a fundamental level and are important inputs for the modeling and interpretation of the data that come in later chapters.
Contemporary Trends in Hospital Admissions and Outcomes in Patients With Critical Limb Ischemia: An Analysis From the National Inpatient Sample Database.

Background: Critical limb ischemia (CLI) morbidity and mortality rates have historically been disproportionately higher than for other atherosclerotic diseases, however, recent trends have not been...
A Flexible Data Model to Support Multi-domain Performance Analysis

Performance data can be complex and potentially high dimensional. Further, it can be collected in multiple, independent domains. For example, one can measure code segments, hardware components, data structures, or an application’s communication structure. Performance analysis and visualization tools require access to this data in an easy way and must be able to specify relationships and mappings between these domains in order to provide users with intuitive, actionable performance analysis results.
Interdisciplinary Research: From Belief to Reality

The history of the federal research enterprise in science, engineering, and technology, the culture of federal research agencies and research universities, and the dominant modes for funding decisions bias the federal support system strongly toward disciplinary research. One result is substantial gaps and missed opportunities in research support. Examples are provided, and a proposal is offered to strengthen significantly the role of high-quality interdisciplinary research in the nation9s research portfolio.
Studies of Nuclear Acidic Proteins EVIDENCE FOR THEIR PHOSPHORYLATION, TISSUE SPECIFICITY, SELECTIVE BINDING TO DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID, AND STIMULATORY EFFECTS ON TRANSCRIPTION

Abstract Methods are described for the extraction, separation, and electrophoretic analysis of a class of acidic nuclear proteins from various tissues of the rat. Such proteins occur in the chromatin and their distribution in diverse nuclear types is tissue specific. Many of the chromosomal acidic proteins are phosphoproteins which incorporate 32P-orthophosphate in vivo with the formation of phosphoserine and phosphothreonine residues. The patterns of phosphorylation of individual nuclear proteins vary from one tissue to another. Many of the acidic proteins prepared from liver and kidney nuclei of the rat form complexes with rat liver DNA. Binding to the DNA of a closely related species (mouse) also occurs, but to a lesser extent. Little or no binding is observed when rat liver phosphoproteins are added under the same conditions to DNA's from calf thymus, human placenta, dog liver, or bacterial cells (Pneumococcus). Nuclear phosphoproteins stimulate transcription in a cell-free RNA-synthesizing system. Correlations are observed between DNA binding and enhancement of RNA synthesis. DNA-protein complexes have been separated by density gradient centrifugation after "annealing" has occurred. The nature of the proteins present in the complex depends on the tissue from which the nuclear proteins were isolated.
Chemical bonding and electronic structure of R NiO 3 ( R = rare earth)

A comparison is made between the local distortions at room temperature of the $M{\mathrm{O}}_{6/2}$ octahedra in three perovskite $\mathrm{RM}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ families in which M is Mn, Fe, or Ni. The comparison distinguishes between distortions arising from cooperative octahedral-site rotation and static Jahn-Teller (JT) distortions. The ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{3+}$ and ${\mathrm{Fe}}^{3+}$ ions have localized $3d$ electrons with primarily ionic M-O bonds whereas the Ni-O bond lengths reflect the crossover from insulator to metallic behavior. Below a critical Ni-O-Ni bond angle, stabilization of two distinguishable ${\mathrm{NiO}}_{6/2}$ sites is more compatible with the segregation into primarily ionic ${\mathrm{Ni}}^{3+}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{O}$ bonding at a JT distorted ${\mathrm{NiO}}_{6/2}$ octahedral site and primarily covalent Ni(III)-O bonding at a less distorted site of smaller mean Ni-O bond length rather than charge transfer between the two Ni sites. Moreover, below a smaller critical $M\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{O}\ensuremath{-}M$ bond angle, which is the same in all three families, the domination of the $M\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{O}\ensuremath{-}M$ interaction weakens relative to $M\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{O}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{O}\ensuremath{-}M$ next-nearest-neighbor interactions.
Integrating documentation tools and techniques into the engineering development environment

A description is given of the unification of the document production cycle. The author introduces documentation tools and techniques useful to enhance productivity. An incentive system is presented which is intended to reduce development costs. A summary lists several key ways in which this contributes to development environment productivity issues. >
Integrating electronic pathfinders in digital libraries: a model for China

Electronic pathfinders/subject guides help library patrons learn about library resources and develop research strategies. By reviewing the existing literature and the current status of reference service in digital libraries in China, the authors suggest that integrating subject specific pathfinders in digital libraries would benefit both users and librarians. This paper also offers a format and a construction guide to aid librarians in preparing readable and usable electronic pathfinders. An appendix presents pathfinder format guidelines and a sample pathfinder.
HiCPlotter integrates genomic data with interaction matrices

Metazoan genomic material is folded into stable non-randomly arranged chromosomal structures that are tightly associated with transcriptional regulation and DNA replication. Various factors including regulators of pluripotency, long non-coding RNAs, or the presence of architectural proteins have been implicated in regulation and assembly of the chromatin architecture. Therefore, comprehensive visualization of this multi-faceted structure is important to unravel the connections between nuclear architecture and transcriptional regulation. Here, we present an easy-to-use open-source visualization tool, HiCPlotter, to facilitate juxtaposition of Hi-C matrices with diverse genomic assay outputs, as well as to compare interaction matrices between various conditions. https://github.com/kcakdemir/HiCPlotter
Assessing the genotoxicity of chronic environmental irradiation by using mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy in the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) at Chornobyl, Ukraine.

This study was designed to investigate whether or not chronic exposure to Chornobyl radiation poses a molecular genetic risk to mammals by examining a relatively rapidly evolving genetic system, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). More mtDNA mutations (;19%) and an increase in mtDNA heteroplasmy (;5%) occurred in the cytochrome b gene of an exposed mother-embryo set when compared to a relatively unexposed mother-embryo set. However, this increase was not statistically significant (p . 0.05). Our results, in conjunction with previous molecular genetic research on small mammals from Chornobyl, suggest that chronic exposure to environmental ionizing radiation does not increase the number of nucleotide substitutions, as predicted by studies using acute or subacute exposures. Thus, cumulative models of radiation risk would not appear to follow simple linear functions derived from high doses and dose rates. The equivocal nature of research regarding the effects of the Chornobyl accident indicates that future research is warranted such that models of chronic environmental exposure can be developed or refined. Although additional study is required to properly validate mtDNA heteroplasmy as a useful effect biomarker, examination of these data does not indicate that a significant risk to mtDNA exists in native rodents chronically exposed to both internal and external radiation.
Floating zone growth and carrier relaxation dynamics in single crystals of Sr2RuO4 near the clean limit

Abstract We report details of floating zone growth of Strontium ruthenate Sr 2 RuO 4 single crystals near the clean limit, with a high onset T c ∼1.5 K. We identify conditions under which pure and defective phases, such as the Ru-precipitate based 3K-phase, form. Electronic properties, X-ray diffraction, electron probe microscopy and superconducting properties help us tailor different growth parameters. We also report the first studies of carrier relaxation time in Sr 2 RuO 4 using optical pump–probe reflectivity measurements down to the femtosecond scale. We find a very long relaxation time at 8 K, indicating low disorder and weak carrier-lattice coupling at low temperatures.
ANTIBODY RESPONSE TO CAPSULAR POLYSACCHARIDES OF STREPTOCOCCUS PNEUMONIAE IN SPLENECTOMIZED CHILDREN WITH B-THALASSEMIA. PERSISTENSE AND RESPONSE TO REVACCINATION. 63

ANTIBODY RESPONSE TO CAPSULAR POLYSACCHARIDES OF STREPTOCOCCUS PNEUMONIAE IN SPLENECTOMIZED CHILDREN WITH B-THALASSEMIA. PERSISTENSE AND RESPONSE TO REVACCINATION. 63
Beyond Biogeography: a Framework for Involving the Public in Planning of U.S. Marine Protected Areas

: Planning of marine protected areas (MPAs) is highlighted in the conservation literature but is not explored in much detail. Many researchers acknowledge the importance of involving the public in MPA planning, but there is limited guidance on how to do this in an effective manner. I present a framework for involving the public in planning of U.S. MPAs. Derived from empirically and theoretically based research on public participation in U.S. natural resource management, this framework is composed of factors that influence the success of participatory processes: active participant involvement, complete information exchange, fair decision making, efficient administration, and positive participant interactions. Processes incorporating these factors will produce decisions that are more likely to be supported by stakeholders, meet management objectives, and fulfill conservation goals. This framework contributes to the MPA social science literature and responds to calls in the conservation literature to increase the use of social science research to inform conservation decision making. Resumen: La planificacion de areas marinas protegidas (AMP) resalta en la literatura de conservacion pero no es explorada en mucho detalle. Muchos investigadores reconocen la importancia de involucrar al publico en la planificacion de AMP, pero las directrices para hacerlo de manera efectiva es limitada. Presento un marco para involucrar al publico en la planificacion de AMP en E.U.A. Este marco, derivado de investigacion empirica y teorica de la participacion del publico en el manejo de recursos naturales en E.U.A., esta compuesto por factores que influyen en el exito de procesos participativos: intervencion activa de usufructuarios; intercambio completo de informacion; toma de decisiones justas; administracion eficiente e interacciones positivas de participantes. Los procesos que incorporan estos factores produciran decisiones que tendran mas posibilidades de ser apoyadas por los usufructuarios, de alcanzar objetivos de manejo y cumplir metas de conservacion. Este marco contribuye a la literatura de ciencias sociales de AMP y responde a llamados en la literatura de conservacion para incrementar el uso de investigacion de ciencias sociales para proporcionar informacion a la toma de decisiones de conservacion.
Return to Our Roots: Raising Radishes To Teach Experimental Design.

Students design and perform an experiment to assess effects of fertilizers on the growth of radish seedlings for a graduate class in design and statistics. The goal of this project is to provide students practice in making design decisions, collecting and analyzing real data, and writing up results. An informal evaluation, based on written comments and a content analysis of the individual reports, suggests that this approach is a promising technique for teaching experimental design.
Flows and obstacles in the solar wind

Abstract Understanding the physics of the various disturbances in the solar wind is critical to successful forecasts of space weather. The STEREO mission promises to bring us new and deeper understanding of these disturbances. As we stand on the threshold of the first results from this mission, it is appropriate to review what we know about solar wind disturbances. Because of their complementary nature we discuss both the disturbances that arise within the solar wind due to the stream structure and coronal mass ejecta and the disturbances that arise when the solar wind collides with planetary obstacles, such as magnetospheres.
Effect of red and near-infrared wavelengths on low-level laser (light) therapy-induced healing of partial-thickness dermal abrasion in mice

Low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) promotes wound healing, reduces pain and inflammation, and prevents tissue death. Studies have explored the effects of various radiant exposures on the effect of LLLT; however, studies of wavelength dependency in in vivo models are less common. In the present study, the healing effects of LLLT mediated by different wavelengths of light in the red and near-infrared (NIR) wavelength regions (635, 730, 810, and 980 nm) delivered at constant fluence (4 J/cm(2)) and fluence rate (10 mW/cm(2)) were evaluated in a mouse model of partial-thickness dermal abrasion. Wavelengths of 635 and 810 nm were found to be effective in promoting the healing of dermal abrasions. However, treatment using 730- and 980-nm wavelengths showed no sign of stimulated healing. Healing was maximally augmented in mice treated with an 810-nm wavelength, as evidenced by significant wound area reduction (p < 0.05), enhanced collagen accumulation, and complete re-epithelialization as compared to other wavelengths and non-illuminated controls. Significant acceleration of re-epithelialization and cellular proliferation revealed by immunofluorescence staining for cytokeratin-14 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (p < 0.05) was evident in the 810-nm wavelength compared with other groups. Photobiomodulation mediated by red (635 nm) and NIR (810 nm) light suggests that the biological response of the wound tissue depends on the wavelength employed. The effectiveness of 810-nm wavelength agrees with previous publications and, together with the partial effectiveness of 635 nm and the ineffectiveness of 730 and 980 nm wavelengths, can be explained by the absorption spectrum of cytochrome c oxidase, the candidate mitochondrial chromophore in LLLT.
Poly(4-dodecylstyrene) as a phase-selectively soluble polymer support in homogeneous catalysis

4-Dodecylstyrene was copolymerized with 4–15 mol% of styrene monomers containing functional groups to synthesize polystyrene-like, alkane phase-selectively soluble polymer supports. Comparison studies of substituted polystyrenes containing dansyl groups showed that dodecyl groups significantly increase the phase selective solubility of a dodecyl-substituted polystyrene analog in the heptane phase of a heptane–acetonitrile mixture versus the phase selective solubility of poly(4-tert-butylstyrene) in this same solvent mixture. Coupling of a 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) derivative to poly(4-dodecylstyrene) (C12PS) formed a (C12PS)-supported DMAP organocatalyst. This C12PS-bound DMAP catalyst had activity like that of other polymer-supported DMAP catalysts and was fully recyclable in a variety of acylation reactions. Catalyst recycling was effected using a biphasic liquid–liquid separation step after a monophasic reaction. By using a C12PS-supported DMAP catalyst that contained dansyl groups, we were able to show that the C12PS-bound DMAP organocatalyst could be recycled as many as 20 times with catalyst leaching that was as low as 0.002% of the starting catalyst per cycle.
Complications of laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer: avoidance and management.

Since laparoscopy was first introduced as a diagnostic tool for pelvic pathology 15 years ago, the technique has been successfully adapted by general and specialty surgeons as a therapeutic tool for a variety of diseases. Laparoscopic surgery has been used to treat colon and rectal pathology since 1991. The introduction and acceptance of this new access technique also brought the realization of specific complications associated with a laparoscopic approach. Advanced laparoscopic skills are required for laparoscopic pelvic and, to minimize laparoscopic-associated complications, specialized training is required. We will review the specific complications of the laparoscopic approach in pelvic surgery with a view to their recognition, prevention, and treatment. Semin. Surg. Oncol. 18:265–268, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Physical and chemical stability of ichthyotoxin(s) produced by Gymnodinium breve.

Abstract The physical and chemical stability of the ichthyotoxin(s) produced by the Florida Red Tide organism Gymnodinium breve has been examined. The toxin is acid stable, base labile, and rapidly inactivated at temperatures greater than 70°C. The half life of the toxin at 80°C is 0.5 hr. In addition, the toxin is photosensitive and is inactivated by ultraviolet, visible, and infrared radiation.
Adaptive input–output feedback linearizing yaw plane control of BAUV using dorsal fins

Abstract This paper presents the design of an adaptive input–output feedback linearizing dorsal fin control system for the yaw plane control of low-speed bio-robotic autonomous underwater vehicles (BAUVs). The control forces are generated by cambering two dorsal fins mounted in the vertical plane on either side of the vehicle. The BAUV model includes nonlinear hydrodynamics, and it is assumed that its hydrodynamic coefficients as well as the physical parameters are not known. For the purpose of design, a linear combination of the yaw angle tracking error and its derivative and integral is chosen as the controlled output variable. An adaptive input–output feedback linearizing control law is derived for the trajectory control of the yaw angle. Unlike indirect adaptive control, here the controller gains are directly tuned. The stability of the zero dynamics is examined. Simulation results are presented for tracking exponential and sinusoidal yaw angle trajectories and for turning maneuvers, and it is shown that the adaptive control system accomplishes precise yaw angle control of the BAUV using dorsal fins in spite of the nonlinearity and large uncertainties in the system parameters.
Development of a sensitivity derivative version of the FPX CFD code via automatic differentiation

Abstract The ADIFOR2.0 automatic differentiator is applied to the FPX CFD code along with the grid generator GRGN3. The FPX is an eXtended Full-Potential CFD code for rotor calculations. The automatic differentiation version of the code is obtained, which provides both non-geometric and geometric sensitivity derivatives. The sensitivity derivatives via automatic differentiation are presented and compared with divided difference generated derivatives. The study shows that automatic differentiation method gives accurate derivative values in an efficient manner.
Separation of a Five-Component Gas Mixture by Pressure Swing Adsorption

Abstract Bulk separation of a five-component mixture simulating coal gasification products was performed by pressure swing adsorption (PSA) using activated carbon. The PSA cycle consisted of four commercially used steps: (I) pressurization with H2, (II) adsorption, (III) blowdown, and (IV) evacuation. Using this cycle, four products were obtained with a single PSA unit: H2 (over 99.7% purity), CO, CH4, and acid gas (CO2 + H2S). The first three products contained less than 0.001% H2S, and the acid gas was suitable for sulfur recovery. A mathematical model incorporating equilibrium adsorption of mixture and mass transfer resistance (of CO2) was found capable of simulating all steps of the PSA cycle. The model simulation results were in fair agreement with the experimental data. A fundamental understanding of the dynamics of the cyclic process was gained through the model.
Interstitialcy model for condensed matter states of face-centered-cubic metals.

The special configuration and dynamics known for interstitialcies in face-centered-cubic metals are exploited to construct a model giving all the thermodynamic properties of crystalline, liquid, and amorphous states in a unified way. A large diaelastic softening of the shear modulus with defect concentration is derived. This leads to a softening of the interstitialcy formation energy, which, taken together with a large entropy contribution from the interstitialcy resonance modes, makes the model, which contains Lindemann's law, viable for quantitative calculations of thermodynamic properties.
Spectroscopy with Nonimaging Optics: Application to the Infrared Spectroscopy of Langmuir Monolayers

We discuss the principles of nonimaging optics and demonstrate how nonimaging concentrators can be used to maximize the collection of low-intensity infrared light. Specifically, we show that infrared reflection-absorption spectra can be obtained from a Langmuir monolayer of heneicosanol with a reasonable number of scans. Preliminary results indicate that at 24A2/molecule and 6 dyne/cm a heneicosanol monolayer is in a crystalline phase with highly ordered, mostly all-trans molecules, and at 42 A2/molecule and 0 dyne/cm the monolayer consists of islands of the crystalline phase in coexistence with disordered molecules in a liquid phase. The good signal-to-noise ratio of the spectra obtained demonstrates the important role that nonimaging optics has in spectroscopy, by maximizing light throughput, and we make several suggestions for its implementation in other spectroscopic applications.
An experimental investigation of high-temperature interactions between seawater and rhyolite, andesite, basalt and peridotite

Natural seawater was allowed to react with rhyolite, andesite, basalt, and peridotite at 200°–500° C, and 1,000 bars at water/rock mass ratios of 5 and 50 in order to investigate the effects of rock type, water/rock ratio, and temperature on solution chemistry and alteration mineralogy. The results indicate that interactions of seawater with various igneous rocks are similar in the production of a hydrous Mg-silicate and anhydrite as major alteration products. Fluids involved in the interactions lose Mg to alteration phases while leaching Fe, Mn, and Si from the rocks. The pH of the solutions is primarily controlled by Mg-OH-silicate formation and therefore varies with Mg and Si concentration of the system. Other reactions which involve Mg (such as Mg-Ca exchange) or which produce free H+, cause major differences in fluid chemistry between different seawater/ rock systems. High water/rock ratio systems (50/1) are generally more acidic and more efficient in leaching than low ratio systems (5/1), due to relatively more seawater Mg available for Mgsilicate production. The experiments show that large-scale seawater/rock interaction could exert considerable control on the chemistry of seawater, as well as producing large bodies of altered rock with associated ore-deposits. Active plate margins of convergence or divergence are suitable environments for hydrothermal systems due to the concurrence of igneous activity, tectonism, and a nearby water reservoir (seawater or connate water). The experimental data indicate that seawater interactions with igneous host rocks could generate many of the features of ore-deposits such as the Kuroko deposits of Japan, the Raul Mine of Peru, the Bleida deposit of Morocco, and deposits associated with ophiolites. Serpentinization of peridotite and alteration of igneous complexes associated with plate margins can also be explained by seawater interaction with the cooling rock. Geothermal energy production could benefit from experimental investigations of hot water/rock systems by development of chemical, temperature, and pressure control systems to maximize the lifetime of hydrothermal flow.
Juvenile hormone degradation in adult wing morphs of the cricket, Gryllus rubens

Abstract Juvenile hormone—III metabolism was compared between adult wing morphs of the cricket Gryllus rubens to determine if variation in hormone degradation could be responsible for the dramatic fecundity differences between female morphs. As in other insects, hormone was degraded almost exclusively to juvenile hormone acid in dilute hemolymph in vitro, while significant quantities of juvenile hormone acid, diol and acid-diol as well as more polar metabolites were produced in vivo within 1 h after injection of racemic hormone. Activities of the degradative enzyme juvenile hormone esterase in hemolymph ranged from 4 to 14 nmol/min/ml serum during the first 10 days of adulthood in each morph of each sex. Activities were similar to values reported in other adult orthopterans and were substantially lower than those in last-stadium G. rubens. The 70 min in vivo half-life of racemic hormone injected into day 5–6 short-winged females was significantly higher than that of mid-last-stadium G. rubens and was similar to values reported in adult Diploptera punctata, Locusta migratoria and Manduca sexta. The amount of (10-R)- or racemic hormone degraded in vivo within 1 h after injection was strongly correlated with hemolymph juvenile hormone esterase activity in individual day 5–7 but not day 2–3 adults. This indicates that the hemolymph esterase contributes significantly to in vivo metabolism of exogenous hormone during some periods in adults. Midgut, fat body and ovaries exhibited significant activities of both juvenile hormone esterase and epoxide hydrolase, indicating that the hydrolase may contribute to tissue-specific and to whole cricket hormone metabolism. Importantly, no major differences were observed between adult wing morphs with respect to (1) percentage racemic or (10-R)-juvenile hormone—III degraded in vivo, (2) developmental profiles of hemolymph juvenile hormone esterase activity or (3) activities of juvenile hormone esterase or epoxide hydrolase in various non-hemolymph tissues. These data (1) provide no evidence that hormone metabolism differs significantly between adult morphs and (2) contrast with the importance of differential hormone degradation in morph induction during the juvenile stage.
Effects of a modified spectrum on the wave structure function of a Gaussian beam

A general expression is developed for the wave structure function (WSF) of a Gaussian beam wave using a modified spectrum of refractive-index fluctuations that features a high wave number bump. Effective beam parameters that characterize the turbulent spot size and phase front radius of curvature are used to formally extend this expression into the strong turbulence regime. The implied spatial coherence length from this expression for the WSF is less than that predicted by conventional spectral models whenever the Fresnel zone size is much larger than the initial beam radius. In the case of a focused beam, the predicted coherence length is slightly greater than that predicted by conventional spectral models when the Fresnel zone size is much smaller than the initial beam radius. The presence of the spectral bump appears to have little effect on coherence when the Fresnel zone size and initial beam radius are of comparable size.