cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Computer Gaming and Learning in an Introductory Economics Course.

In this article Emery and Enger not only discuss the results of an experimental use of a computer game, Fiscal Policy, but explain the use of the gap-closing score model in evaluating student gains. Readers are urged to pay close attention to the gap-closing score technique as an analytical tool and might consider using it in their own research and evaluation efforts. The authors' use of the TUCE in this study, and their breakdown of the test into simple application, complex application and recognition-understanding components for purposes of this analysis, will also be of interest.
Fixed-precision list-quadrat sequential sampling for point-density estimation

Abstract The key determinate of a fixed-precision list-quadrat sequential sampling system is the equation expressing the variance of count per quadrat ( σ 2 ) as a function of the mean count per quadrat ( m ). Three functional forms have been proposed for biological populations, i.e., Iwao and Kuno's (1968) second-degree polynomial function, Kuno's (1969) negative inomial-based function, and Taylor's (1961) power law relationship. The objectives of this study were to (i) evaluate these three functions on their specific applicability to black spruce ( Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.)-balsam fir ( Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) seedling populations, and (ii) given (i), construct a sampling chart. Employing σ 2 − m data obtained from forty-three 0.121-ha sample plots located within black-spruce/balsam-fir seedling populations of central insular Newfoundland, parameters for each of the three models were estimated. Results indicated that (i) the negative binomial distribution could only describe 52% of the seedling frequency distributions at the 5% level of significance, and so Kuno's (1969) model was rejected, and (ii) both Iwao and Kuno's (1968) and Taylor's (1961) models were approximately equivalent in terms of predictive ability and sampling efficiency; however, the mean crowding index/mean relationship underlying Iwao and Kuno's (1968) model was considered statistically inapplicable. Thus employing Taylor's (1961) model a fixed-precision list-quadrat sampling chart was constructed for point-density estimation within seedling populations.
Drawing to a Diamond flush.

In this issue of Blood , Dutt and colleagues address the selective effect of ribosomal protein haploinsufficiency on erythroid development observed in congenital Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA) and acquired 5q− syndrome.[1][1] Their findings reveal a selective induction of p53 in the erythroid
Physician practices in the management of venous thromboembolism: a community-wide survey

Although there is a broad consensus on the optimum approach to the management of venous thromboembolism, there are few data from which to assess the extent of compliance with these recommendations. A community-wide study was therefore conducted in 16 short-stay hospitals in central Massachusetts to assess the clinical management of venous thromboembolism. Based on validated discharge diagnostic codes, there were 1231 clinically recognized cases of venous thromboembolism, 0.8% of 148,730 discharges in the 18-month period from July 1, 1988, to December 31, 1989. Eighty-one percent of study patients were admitted with signs or symptoms of acute venous thromboembolism. Ninety-seven percent of patients were treated with either heparin, warfarin, or inferior vena caval filter. Intravenous heparin was given to 89% of patients (mean bolus 6674 IU; mean duration 6.6 days). After heparin administration, there was a mean delay of 2.3 days in starting warfarin. Assuming a corresponding decrease in the length of hospital stay, appreciable cost savings could have been realized by earlier start of oral anticoagulation. An inferior vena cava filter was placed in 14% of patients. There was a clinically recognized in-hospital recurrence of venous thromboembolism during treatment in 2% of patients. Despite a slightly lower rate of compliance with recommended treatment regimens in nonteaching hospitals, and despite less frequent use of the inferior vena cava filter, there was no significant difference in the rate of in-hospital recurrence of clinically recognized venous thromboembolism in 10 nonteaching hospitals compared with six teaching hospitals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Gravity-driven film flow down an inclined wall with three-dimensional corrugations

The gravity-driven flow of a liquid film down an inclined wall with three-dimensional doubly periodic corrugations is investigated in the limit of vanishing Reynolds number. The film surface may exhibit constant or variable surface tension due to an insoluble surfactant. A perturbation analysis for small-amplitude corrugations is performed, wherein the wall geometry is expressed as a Fourier series consisting of a linear superposition of two-dimensional oblique waves defined by two base vectors. Each of the constituent perturbation flows over the individual oblique waves is further decomposed into a two-dimensional flow transverse to the oblique waves and a unidirectional flow parallel to the waves. Both the transverse and the parallel flow are calculated by carrying out an analysis in oblique coordinates, similar to that conducted for two-dimensional flow. The particular cases of flow down a wall with oblique two-dimensional, orthogonal three-dimensional, and hexagonal three-dimensional corrugations are considered. The results illustrate the surface velocity field and the distribution of the surfactant. The three-dimensional wall geometry is found to reduce the surface deformation with respect to its two-dimensional counterpart by increasing the effective wave numbers and decreasing the effective capillary number encapsulating the effect of surface tension.
Asymptotically Optimal Truncated Multivariate Gaussian Hypothesis Testing With Application to Consensus Algorithms

In the interest of complexity reduction or to facilitate efficient distributed computation using consensus, truncated versions of the optimal hypothesis test are considered for a canonical multivariate Gaussian problem with L observations. The truncated tests employ correlation terms involving any given observation. The focus is on cases with a large L such that significant efficiency results with a truncation rule, k as a function of L, which increases very slowly with L. A key result provides sufficient conditions on truncation rules and sequences of hypothesis testing problems which provide no loss in deflection performance as L approaches infinity when compared to the optimal detector. The set of asymptotically optimal truncation rules satisfying these sufficient conditions varies with the scaling behavior of the difficulty of the hypothesis testing problem with L. Several popular classes of system and process models, including observations from wide-sense stationary limiting processes as L→∞ after the mean is subtracted, are used as illustrative classes of examples to demonstrate the sufficient conditions are not overly restrictive. In these examples, significant truncation can be employed even when the difficulty of the hypothesis testing problem scales in the least favorable manner, putting the most stringent conditions on the truncation rule. In all the cases considered, numerical results imply the fixed-false-alarm-rate detection probability of the truncated detector converges to the detection probability of the optimal detector for our asymptotically optimal truncation in terms of deflection.
Mixing Media: Critical Approaches to Cinematic Modernism

This essay maps the current state of scholarship on modernist literature and cinema in the interest of defining the methodological issues at stake and outlining the most promising directions for future research. After tracing the recent history of critical approaches to modernist literature and cinema, the essay focuses on new books by Susan McCabe and David Trotter, whose work clarifies major trends in scholarship because they explicitly articulate methodological propositions that other critics tend to take for granted. Their work poses important questions about what counts as evidence that a literary text is structured ‘like’ a cinematic text, about what such resemblances and affinities mean, and about medium specificity as a historical category in modernism and as a critical presupposition. The essay ultimately suggests that criticism on cinematic modernism in literature has the potential to challenge the basic categories of literary studies, by destabilizing the boundaries between media and opening up the possibility that modernist literature actually is cinematic.
Construction of new cloning, lacZ reporter and scarless–markerless suicide vectors for genetic studies in Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans

To elucidate the putative function of a gene, effective tools are required for genetic characterization that facilitate its inactivation, deletion or modification on the bacterial chromosome. In the present study, the nucleotide sequence of the Escherichia coli/Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans shuttle vector pYGK was determined, allowing us to redesign and construct a new shuttle cloning vector, pJT4, and promoterless lacZ transcriptional/translational fusion plasmids, pJT3 and pJT5. Plasmids pJT4 and pJT5 contain the origin of replication necessary to maintain shuttle vector replication. In addition, a new suicide vector, pJT1, was constructed for the generation of scarless and markerless deletion mutations of genes in the oral pathogen A. actinomycetemcomitans. Plasmid pJT1 is a pUC-based suicide vector that is counter-selectable for sucrose sensitivity. This vector does not leave antibiotic markers or scars on the chromosome after gene deletion and thus provides the option to combine several mutations in the same genetic background. The effectiveness of pJT1 was demonstrated by the construction of A. actinomycetemcomitans isogenic qseB single deletion (ΔqseB) mutant and lsrRK double deletion mutants (ΔlsrRK). These new vectors may offer alternatives for genetic studies in A. actinomycetemcomitans and other members of the HACEK (Haemophilus spp., A. actinomycetemcomitans, Cardiobacterium hominis, Eikenella corrodens, and Kingella kingae) group of Gram-negative bacteria.
Accurate intensity correction for endorectal surface coil MR imaging of the prostate

An accurate technique has been developed to correct the intensity variation in MR (magnetic resonance) images acquired with an endorectal surface coil for prostate imaging. The technique relies on reconstructing the in-vivo size, shape, and location of the coil during imaging, wherefrom a pixel-by-pixel correction is applied to the coil's sensitivity profile in accordance with the Biot-Savart law. The method has been evaluated by a test-object containing multiple layers of beads embedded in gelatin. Qualitatively, the improvement in visualizing regions of interest after corrections is obvious. Quantitatively, the local signal-to-noise ratio shows an improvement by a factor of 1.5-2. Several human studies have also been performed, and the technique shows remarkable improvement in visualizing the prostate region. >
Organizational roles and communication modes in team work

We have surveyed ten collaborators' perceptions on the value of nine communication modes: email, telephone, pen-and-paper, computer conferencing, telephone conferencing, face-to-face, fax, post, and whiteboard. Eight roles were considered: innovator, resource investigator, chair, shaper, evaluator, team worker, organizer, and finisher. Through a repeated measures design, a mapping between these modes and roles was determined. Face-to-face communication was viewed as most valuable by all roles, except the innovator role. Voice-based communication modes supported more interdependencies among roles than any other communication mode, but each mode serves a function in supporting group work.
Addressing the challenges of DBT for the ARM architecture

Dynamic binary translation (DBT) can provide security, virtualization, resource management and other desirable services to embedded systems. Although DBT has many benefits, its run-time performance overhead can be relatively high. The run-time overhead is important in embedded systems due to their slow processor clock speeds, simple microarchitectures, and small caches. This paper addresses how to implement efficient DBT for ARM-based embedded systems, taking into account instruction set and cache/TLB nuances. We develop several techniques that reduce DBT overhead for the ARM. Our techniques focus on cache and TLB behavior. We tested the techniques on an ARM-based embedded device and found that DBT overhead was reduced by 54% in comparison to a general-purpose DBT configuration that is known to perform well, thus further enabling DBT for a wide range of purposes.
Profiles of physical and psychological violence in childhood as a risk factor for poorer adult health: evidence from the 1995-2005 National Survey of Midlife in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined linkages between physical and psychological violence in childhood from parents and three dimensions of adult health (self-rated health, functional limitations, chronic conditions). METHODS: Regression models were estimated using data from the 1995 and 2005 waves of the National Survey of Midlife in the U.S. Responses to an adapted version of the Conflict Tactics Scales in 1995 were used to code respondents into one of nine profiles of violence distinguished by types and frequency of violence. RESULTS: Reports of both frequent physical and frequent psychological violence were associated with poorer health at baseline across the three dimensions of health, as well as with more severe declines in health across all three dimensions over the 10-year study period. DISCUSSION: Results suggest that having experienced frequent physical and psychological violence in childhood is a risk factor for poorer adult health status and declining trajectories of health throughout adulthood. Language: en
Reconceptualizing Stars: Scientist Helpfulness and Peer Performance

It is surprising that the prevailing performance taxonomy for scientists (star versus nonstar) focuses only on individual output and ignores social behavior, because innovation is often characterized as a communal process. To develop a deeper understanding of the mechanisms by which scientists influence the productivity of others, I expand the traditional taxonomy of scientists that focuses solely on productivity and add a second, social dimension: helpfulness to others. Using a combination of academic paper publications and citations to capture scientist productivity and the receipt of academic paper acknowledgments to measure helpfulness, I examine the change in publishing output of the coauthors of 149 scientists that die. Coauthors of highly helpful scientists that die experience a decrease in output quality but not output quantity. Meanwhile, the deaths of high productivity scientists that are not highly helpful do not influence their coauthors' output. In addition, scientists who are helpful with conceptual feedback (critique and advice) have a larger impact on the performance of their coauthors than scientists who provide help with material access, scientific tools, or technical work. Within the context of evaluating scientific productivity, it may be time to update our conceptualization of a “star.” This paper was accepted by Lee Fleming, entrepreneurship and innovation.
Did Tarski commit “Tarski's fallacy”?

In his 1936 paper, On the Concept of Logical Consequence, Tarski introduced the celebrated definition of logical consequence: “The sentenceσ follows logically from the sentences of the class Γ if and only if every model of the class Γ is also a model of the sentence σ.” [55, p. 417] This definition, Tarski said, is based on two very basic intuitions, “essential for the proper concept of consequence” [55, p. 415] and reflecting common linguistic usage: “Consider any class Γ of sentences and a sentence which follows from the sentences of this class. From an intuitive standpoint it can never happen that both the class Γ consists only of true sentences and the sentence σ is false. Moreover, … we are concerned here with the concept of logical, i.e., formal, consequence.” [55, p. 414] Tarski believed his definition of logical consequence captured the intuitive notion: “It seems to me that everyone who understands the content of the above definition must admit that it agrees quite well with common usage. … In particular, it can be proved, on the basis of this definition, that every consequence of true sentences must be true.” [55, p. 417] The formality of Tarskian consequences can also be proven. Tarski's definition of logical consequence had a key role in the development of the model-theoretic semantics of modern logic and has stayed at its center ever since.
Linux: The Complete Reference

From the Publisher: The most comprehensive Linux reference available! Covers all major upgrades including the latest kernel version 2. 4 and new versions of Red Hat,Caldera,and SuSE. Also includes 2 bonus CDs containing Red Hat Linux and Caldera's OpenLinux eServer. The Ultimate In-Depth Linux Resource! Take advantage of the powerful capabilities of Linux using this comprehensive and easy-to-use reference. Featuring up-to-date coverage of everything from installation and configuration to system administration and programming,this valuable reference covers all the latest distributions of Linux and the Linux 2. 4 kernel. New chapters include full details on system,network,and security setup tasks as well as coverage of the KOffice and Evolution office suites. The 2 CD-ROMs contain Red Hat Linux 7 and Caldera OpenLinux eDesktop 2. 4. For anyone wanting to learn to install,administer,or program using the latest Linux platform,this is your one-stop guide. Learn to install Linux including latest versions of RedHat and CalderaConfigure settings for network,system,security,and kernel 2. 4Master KDE 2. 0,Gnome,KOffice,Evolution,and the ShellSet up and manage serversFTP,Apache,news,proxy,and moreUse network administration tools,SAMBA,and SendmailManage users,file systems,and devicesEnsure network security using firewall and encryption methodsDeploy powerful database,office,and desktop applicationsLearn to program on Linux using BASH shell scripts,Perl,Tcl/TK,Gawk,and LaTec,along with programming tools such as the gcc compiler,RCS,and more
Deposition and Characterization of Li2O–SiO2–P2O5 Thin Films

Amorphous lithium electrolyte thin films, xLi2O·ySiO2·zP2O5, were deposited by rf magnetron sputtering of pure and mixed-phase lithium silicate, lithium phosphate, SiO2, Li2O, and Li2CO3 targets, and their compositions were determined using proton-induced y-ray emission spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, and atomic-emission spectroscopy. The deposition conditions were chosen to assure thermalization of the sputtered flux, which proved to be necessary in order to obtain a homogeneous distribution of Si and P in the films. Optical absorption and ac impedance measurements showed that glass-in-glass phase separation occurred in a large SiO2-rich domain of the composition diagram. In contrast to bulk glasses, all of the Li2O–SiO2 films were phase-separated, including those with lithia contents larger than lithium disilicate. High-performance liquid chromatography measurements revealed that, analogous to bulk glasses, the addition of SiO2 to Li2O-P2O5 compositions reduced the number of phosphate anion dimers, trimers, and higher anion polymers in the films through the formation of -Si-O-P-bonds. However, in contrast to bulk glasses, the distribution of phosphate anion polymers followed closely the Flory distribution, with the fraction of anion polymers decreasing monotonically with increasing chain length.
A new examination of secondary electron yield data

A new and thorough examination of secondary electron (SE) yield as a function of primary energy (EPE) and atomic number Z for the 44 elements in the database1 is made. The principles of the semiempirical universal law for the SE yield are described and a template for Monte Carlo (MC) simulation is produced accordingly. Both universal curve fitting and MC simulation are made for the 44 elements. The resulted maximum SE yield δm, corresponding primary energy , SE excitation energy e, and effective escape depth λ are tabulated and plotted as a function of atomic number Z. It is found that similarities exist in the profiles of e and λ, δm and , and all of these parameters seem to have characteristics associated with atomic shell filling. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimized scalable video streaming over IEEE 802.11 a/e HCCA wireless networks under delay constraints

The quality-of-service (QoS) guarantees enabled by the new IEEE 802.11 a/e Wireless LAN (WLAN) standard are specifically targeting the real-time transmission of multimedia content over the wireless medium. Since video data consume the largest part of the available bitrate compared to other media, optimization of video streaming for this new standard is a significant factor for the successful deployment of practical systems. Delay-constrained streaming of fully-scalable video over IEEE 802.11 a/e WLANs is of great interest for many multimedia applications. The new medium access control (MAC) protocol of IEEE 802.11e is called the Hybrid Coordination Function (HCF) and, in this paper, we will specifically consider the problem of video transmission over HCF Controlled Channel Access (HCCA). A cross-layer optimization across the MAC and application layers of the OSI stack is used in order to exploit the features provided by the combination of the new HCCA standard with new versatile scalable video coding algorithms. Specifically, we propose an optimized and scalable HCCA-based admission control for delay-constrained video streaming applications that leads to a larger number of stations being simultaneously admitted (without quality reduction to any video flow). Subsequently, given the allocated transmission opportunity, each station deploys an optimized Application-MAC-PHY adaptation, scheduling, and protection strategy that is facilitated by the fine-grain layering provided by the scalable bitstream. Given that each video flow needs to always comply with the predetermined (a priori negotiated) traffic specification parameters, this cross-layer strategy enables graceful quality degradation whenever the channel conditions or the video sequence characteristics change. For instance, it is demonstrated that the proposed cross-layer protection and bitstream adaptation strategies facilitate QoS token rate adaptation under link adaptation mechanisms that utilize different physical layer transmission rates. The expected gains offered by the optimized solutions proposed in this paper are established theoretically, as well as through simulations.
The Library as Inquiry Learning System: Defining the Issues

This is the first of a series of columns on the emerging new role of the academic library as a center for learning—but learning in a new sense, with a new focus on what the student actually actively incorporates rather than on teaching method. The new perspective is captured in the concept of student-centered or inquiry-based learning, with special emphasis on reading and better utilization of the extensive print resources carefully collected by academic libraries over the decades.
L1 Adaptive Control of Uncertain Nonlinear Systems in the Presence of Output Limits

This paper presents an adaptive solution for the control of nonlinear systems in the presence of output limits. The basic architecture of L1 adaptive control is extended for unknown system with additional out- put constraints. Previous investigation and study proves that L1 Adaptive controller is quite efiective in dealing with time-varying nonlinear uncer- tainties. In the proposed approach, the integrator with limits has been investigated due to the output constraints, which makes the control signal bounded accordingly. In virtue of smooth control signal, the ∞exible bounds of the output have been designed as well. Simulation results illustrate the theoretical flndings.
New frontiers in gold labeling.

Recent advances in gold technology have led to probes with improved properties and performance for cell biologists: higher labeling density, better sensitivity, and greater penetration into tissues...
Towards a Formal Verification of an Authentication Protocol Using Non-Monotonic Logic

Authentication is one of the important security properties required to identify the communicating party or to validate the received document. Several authentication techniques with many flavors have been proposed, however, most of them lack a formal security proof. In this paper, we present a two-factor authentication protocol and followed by a key establishment mechanism using only hash function. We analyze and verify the security of the proposed protocol using non-monotonic logic.
Infographics And Public Policy: Using Data Visualization To Convey Complex Information

Data visualization combines principles from psychology, usability, graphic design, and statistics to highlight important data in accessible and appealing formats. Doing so helps bridge knowledge producers with knowledge users, who are often inundated with information and increasingly pressed for time.
Cation-Dependent Hierarchical Assembly of U60 Nanoclusters into Macro-Ion Assemblies Imaged via Cryogenic Transmission Electron Microscopy

Self-assembly of ([UO2(O2)OH]60)60– (U60), an actinide polyoxometalate with fullerene topology, can be induced by the addition of mono- and divalent cations to aqueous U60 solutions. Dynamic light scattering and small-angle X-ray scattering lend important insights into assembly in this system, but direct imaging of U60 and its assemblies via transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has remained an elusive goal. In this work, we used cryogenic TEM to image U60 and secondary and tertiary assemblies of U60 to characterize the size, morphology, and rate of formation of the secondary and tertiary structures. The kinetics and final morphologies of the secondary and tertiary structures strongly depend on the cation employed, with monovalent cations (Na+ and K+) leading to the highest rates and largest secondary and tertiary structures.
Sacrifice tests for predation in a dynamic pricing model: Ordover and Willig (1981) and Cabral and Riordan (1997) meet Ericson and Pakes (1995)

Abstract To detect the presence of predatory pricing, antitrust authorities and courts routinely ask whether a firm sacrifices current profit in exchange for the expectation of higher future profit following the exit of its rival. Because predatory pricing is an inherently dynamic phenomenon, we show in this paper how to construct sacrifice tests for predatory pricing in a modern industry-dynamics framework along the lines of Ericson and Pakes (1995). In particular, we adapt the definitions of predation due to Ordover and Willig (1981) and Cabral and Riordan (1997) to this setting and construct the corresponding sacrifice tests.
The Oedipal Complex of Plato's Republic

Plato's Republic is a response to a work that hardly appears in the Republic, Sophocles' Oedipus the King (OT). Like OT, the Republic is about the relationship between Truth and the Good; like OT, the Republic features a hero of truth who contends that Justice and Truth and Happiness are all on the same page; and like OT, this hero of truth ends up discovering a solution which ends up sanctioning his eviction. In the end, Truth goes one way, and Happiness, the other. Sophocles thought he had articulated the perfect tragedy. Plato shows in the Republic that he has him beat. This paper will provide an account of the tragic character of Plato's Republic, and, in turn, political life.
In Vivo Testing of Noninvasive ICP Monitoring Methodology in a Porcine Model

Research has suggested that elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) can cause damage to the optic nerve and reduce visual acuity. There is a need for noninvasive ICP monitoring devices. A simple, portable device capable of measuring relative changes in ICP using a noninvasive methodology would have a significant impact on clinical care. The methodology presented in this paper utilizes transcranial Doppler ultrasonography to monitor ophthalmic artery hemodynamics while small forces are applied to cornea. In vivo testing using a porcine model results in a correlation between pulsatility or resistivity indices and ICP levels. Specifically, the change in these indices while force is applied decreases as ICP increases. The data collection prototype used in these experiments contained an ultrasound transducer instrumented with a load cell to measure force applied to the cornea. These experiments are an initial step towards adapting the data collection prototype into a handheld noninvasive ICP monitoring device.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Selective transport of zinc ions through novel polymer inclusion membranes (PIMS) containing β-diketone derivatives as carrier reagents

ABSTRACTThe selective transport of various metal ions through a novel polymer inclusion membrane (PIM) doped with β-diketone derivatives (acetylacetone (1), 3-propyl-acetylacetone (2), and 3-benzyl-acetylacetone (3)) was investigated. Initial fluxes of metal ions transport across PIMs decrease in the following sequence: Zn(II) > Cu(II) > Co(II) > Ni(II). Results show that zinc(II) can be effectively separated by studied PIMs from equimolar aqueous solutions of copper, zinc, cobalt, and nickel nitrates. At pH 7.5 and after 24 hours 87–93% of Zn(II) was recovered. It was found that membranes containing 2 and 3 separate zinc better than PIM with 1. Prepared PIMs were characterized using AFM and thermal analysis techniques.
Methods Using Crossover Trial Before Hanging Abnormal Noise Analysis

Cross-test method to determine and confirm the suspension before the root cause of the abnormal sound, and then the cause abnormal sound reasons to develop and implement effective measures for improvement to reach the front suspension abnormal noise suppression and solve problems
Investigation on Hepatitis B Virus Infection Among New Students of a Senior Middle School in Hengdong County,Hunan Province

Objective To investigate the incidence of HBV infection among new senior middle school students,and to provide the evidence for making preventive strategy. Methods Totally 2,756 new senior middle school students from 2006 to 2009 were selected as the target population,and the 5 HBV infection parameters,HBsAg,HBsAb,HBeAg,HBeAb and HBcAb were tested using ELISA method. Results Among the 2,756 samples,the positive HBsAg was detected in 123 samples,with the positive rate of 4.46%.From 2006 to 2009,the positive rate was declined from 5.67% to 2.73%.The positive rate of boys was 3.08%,and that of girls was 2.3%.As far as the infection pattern of HBsAg positive population,the results showed that the positive rate of HBsAg,HBcAb and HBeAb was 47.15%.The positive rate of HBsAg and HBcAb was 28.46%.The positive rate of HBsAg,HBeAg and HBcAb was 16.26%.The positive rate of HBsAg and HBeAg was 4.88%,and the positive rate of unique HBsAg was 3.25%. Conclusions The results suggest that HBV infection rate in new senior middle school students is reduced gradually in recent years.However,there is still relative high frequency of HBeAg positive rate(21.14%) among HBsAg positive population and it may be the risk for HBV transmission.Therefore,enhancement of the management of HBV carriers and hepatitis B immunization to new senior middle school students are necessary.
Urinary Prostate Specific Antigen Levels after Radical Prostatectomy

AbstractIt was recently demonstrated that urinary prostate specific antigen (PSA) is discordant with serum PSA in many patients after radical prostatectomy. This observation led to the speculation that elevated urinary PSA in the face of undetectable serum PSA may indicate early disease recurrence. We measured urinary PSA levels in 30 patients who had undergone radical prostatectomy for prostate carcinoma and 7 patients who had undergone cystoprostatectomy for bladder cancer. PSA levels of randomly collected urine samples ranged from 0.00 to 22.9ng./ml. and 0.01 to 8.37ng./ml., respectively. There was no correlation among urinary and serum PSA levels, pathological stage or type of operation. In 14 patients who had undergone radical prostatectomy and who had measurable levels of urinary PSA voided specimens were divided into initial stream and end stream voided samples. The PSA levels in the end stream voided samples were significantly less than the initial stream sample in 12 of the 14 patients.In men who...
The Effect of Information Organization and Decision Process on Decision Speed and Accuracy in a Purchase Task Context

Little research have explored purchase as a task. What is the decision process of the employee when asked by the boss to purchase a printer for the office? In a purchase task scenario, the onus is on the retailer to provide organized information for consumers. We offer a human factor’s perspective. Information organization influences decision time and decision accuracy. This relationship is moderated by the decision process of the shopper. We predict that when faced with information organized into paragraphs, consumers who use type 1 (heuristics) decision processes would make less accurate decisions than those who use type 2 (rational) processes. A similar relationship exists for information organized into matrices, but we predict the difference in accuracy would be smaller. The results would have implications that suggest retailers should better organize their information to facilitate purchase decisions.
Discussion of the Hausman Paper

Jerry Hausman’s paper makes major contributions to both the labor supply and taxation literatures. His paper provides the most reliable labor supply estimates to date since he takes account of the nonlinear budget constraint created by federal and state income taxes. His work also helps rectify the misleading approach taken by politicians, the popular press, and many economists which stresses the revenue effects of tax cuts: the relevant question is the welfare effect of tax cuts. Hausman is able (amazingly enough!) to rigorously calculate the deadweight loss imposed by a tax.
Nanomechanics in optical manufacturing

Nanomechanics addresses nm-level material properties, including fracture, mechanical-chemical interactions, and deformation. Nanomechanics applies to optical manufacturing from grinding, to finishing, to polishing, including magnetorheological finishing (MRF), as all these material removal mechanisms essentially break atomic bonds.
The tale of a moderate normative skeptic

While Richard Joyce’s moral skepticism might seem to be an extreme metaethical view, it is actually far more moderate than it might first appear. By articulating four challenges facing his approach to moral skepticism, I argue that Joyce’s moderation is, in fact, a theoretical liability. First, the fact that Joyce is not skeptical about normativity in general makes it possible to develop close approximations to morality, lending support to moderate moral revisionism over moral error theory. Second, Joyce relies on strong, contentious conceptual and empirical claims in support of his views. Third, Joyce’s evolutionary debunking argument threatens to backfire, generalizing to all normative judgments. Finally, Joyce fails to offer an adequate account of the normativity of desire. Each of these four challenges can be either sidestepped (the first and second) or embraced (the third and fourth) by radicalizing and defending a global form of normative skepticism. There are thus several ways in which global normative skepticism appears to be in a more robust dialectical position than Joyce’s moral skepticism. Furthermore, I argue, Joyce’s arguments against global normative skepticism are unconvincing. While this discussion is framed in terms of Joyce’s work, its arguments will apply to other moral skeptics who are not also global normative skeptics. The result is an invitation for Joyce and other moral skeptics to leave these problems behind and join the radical camp.
Simultaneous uniaxial extensional deformation and cylindrical confinement of block copolymers using non-equilibrium molecular dynamics.

Using coarse-grained nonequilibrium molecular dynamics, symmetric block copolymers are simulated under the combined effects of cylindrical confinement and uniaxial extensional deformation. For a given confinement diameter, a block copolymer (BCP) will self-assemble into a fixed number of concentric cylinder lamellae at equilibrium. The changing diameter during uniaxial extensional deformation therefore is expected to affect the morphology of the BCPs. The aim of this study is to investigate the interplay of deformation and confinement on BCP morphology by varying the simulation strain rate and diameter. Two different simulation approaches are conducted: constant time simulations with varying initial diameter and constant strain simulations with varying simulation time. A comparison of self-assembly at different strain rates shows that for low strain rates, near-equilibrium morphology can form despite the deformation, while for progressively higher strain rates, extra lamellae and disordered morphologies appear. By defining a Weissenberg number based on the deformation and polymer self-assembly time-scales, the morphologies at different strain rates and diameters are explained. Using the time scale analysis, ordered morphologies appear for Wi 1. For the latter case, the cylinder diameter shrinks too quickly for polymers to form the equilibrium morphology, which results in a mixture of lamellar structures along the cylinder length.
Globalization in Marketing: An Empirical Analysis of Business Adoption and Use of Social Network Sites

Although the internet is a widely used information technology exploited by businesses to communicate with consumers, the present research indicates that many organizations have not established a presence on social network sites (SNSs). Using contingency and organizational learning theories, this research establishes a theoretical foundation for understanding organizational adoption and use of SNSs as a standardization marketing strategy by some of the world’s leading brands. This paper also utilizes the Business Social Network Site (BSNS) Index, a new metric for measuring the extent to which companies promote their use of SNSs on their own website, to test hypotheses predicting firm adoption and use of SNSs. In addition to the contribution of the BSNS Index, an initial understanding of actual adoption and use of SNS as a marketing strategy by large firms is established.
Parity constraints on reaction amplitudes

A method to avoid parity doubling in Veneziano-type models for scattering of particles with spin is presented. Parity constraints onN-particle amplitudes are discussed.
Restoration of the nasopharyngeal response after bilateral sectioning of the anterior ethmoidal nerve in the rat

In response to stimulation of the nasal passages with volatile ammonia vapors, the nasopharyngeal reflex produces parasympathetically mediated bradycardia, sympathetically mediated increased peripheral vascular tone, and apnea. The anterior ethmoidal nerve (AEN), which innervates the anterior nasal mucosa, is thought to be primarily responsible for providing the sensory afferent signals that initiate these protective reflexes, as bilateral sectioning causes an attenuation of this response. However, recent evidence has shown cardiovascular responses to nasal stimulation with ammonia vapors are fully intact 9 days after bilateral AEN sectioning, and are similar to control animals without bilaterally sectioned AENs. To investigate this restoration of the nasopharyngeal response, we recorded the cardiorespiratory responses to nasal stimulation with ammonia vapors immediately after, and 3 and 9 days after, bilateral AEN sectioning. We also processed brainstem tissue for Fos to determine how the restoration of the nasopharyngeal response would affect the activity of neurons in the medullary dorsal horn (MDH), the part of the ventral spinal trigeminal nucleus caudalis region that receives primary afferent signals from the nose and nasal passages. We found 3 days after bilateral AEN sectioning the cardiorespiratory responses to nasal stimulation are partially restored. The bradycardic response to nasal stimulation is significantly more intense 3 days after AEN sectioning compared to Acute AEN sectioning. Surprisingly, 3 days after AEN sectioning the number of Fos-positive neurons within MDH decreased, even though the cardiorespiratory responses to nasal stimulation intensified. Collectively these findings indicate that, besides the AEN, there are alternate sensory pathways that can activate neurons within the trigeminal nucleus in response to nasal stimulation. The findings further suggest trigeminal neuronal plasticity involving these alternate sensory pathways occurs in as few as 3 days after bilateral AEN sectioning. Finally, activation of even a significantly reduced number of MDH neurons is sufficient to initiate the nasopharyngeal response.
Rendezvous Planning for Multiple AUVs With Mobile Charging Stations in Dynamic Currents

Operation of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) in large spatiotemporal missions is currently challenged by onboard energy resources requiring manned support. With current methods, AUVs are programmed to return to a static charging station based on a threshold in their energy level. Although this approach has shown success in extending the operational life, it becomes impractical due to interruption of AUV operation and loss of energy needed to return to charging station. It is also not practical for large networks due to shortage of charging stations. We introduce mobile onsite power delivery, which will fundamentally change the range and duration of underwater operations. This letter presents a mission planning method to generate mobile charger trajectories, given pre-defined working AUV trajectories, considering environmental constraints such as currents and obstacles. The problem is formulated as a multiple generalized traveling salesman problem, which is then transformed into a traveling salesman problem. Energy cost in dynamic currents is integrated with a path planning algorithm using a grid-based environment model. A scheduling strategy extends the problem over multiple charging cycles. Simulation results show that the planning method significantly improves mission success and energy expenditure. Field experiments in Lake Superior using two types of AUVs, an unmanned surface vessel, and a manned support vessel validate the feasibility of the planned trajectories for long-term marine missions.
Fluorinated Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins

Diverse range of proteins with unique chemical and biological properties can be designed through site-directed or random mutagenesis using fluorinated amino acids of either stereochemical configuration, whereas relatively small peptides can be synthesized through solid-phase peptide synthesis. Even a single substitution of fluorinated amino acids into proteins may exert a dramatic effect on proteolytic and thermal stabilities of peptides and proteins. Synthetic fluorinated collagen-like peptides, incorporating 4-fluoroproline residues, bind tightly with mammalian collagen, and thus fluorinated-collagen-based biomaterials are potentially useful in skin grafting and restorative procedures. Fluorinated analogs of glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1, with optimal binding affinity to GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) and with improved hydrolytic stabilities, are potential therapeutics in treating diabetes. Fluorinated versions of amino acids, especially those of leucine, tryptophan, phenylalanine, and tyrosine, are widely used to study protein folding and enzyme–substrate complexes. Global substitution of the amino acids in proteins by fluorinated amino acids often retains the biological activity of the wild-type proteins. This chapter outlines the applications of fluorinated amino acids in protein engineering for devising noncanonical peptides and proteins with enhanced thermal and proteolytic stabilities and with unique biological properties.
Crossing the color line: An examination of mediators and a social media intervention for racial bias in selective exposure to movies

ABSTRACTPrevious research has found that White audiences exhibit less preference for movies with minority casts than for movies with White casts. We conducted two experiments to explore why this ra...
Issues and Improvements in the Visual Analysis of A-B Single-Case Graphs by Pre-Service Professionals:

Professionals working with individuals at risk for, or with, disabilities are required by federal legislation to select, implement, and formatively and summatively evaluate the effectiveness of evi...
Durable Survival Outcomes in Primary and Secondary Central Nervous System Lymphoma After High-dose Chemotherapy and Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation Using a Thiotepa, Busulfan, and Cyclophosphamide Conditioning Regimen

Abstract Background High-dose chemotherapy (HDC) with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) has been investigated in patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) with CNS involvement and has shown promising results. Patients and Methods A retrospective analysis was performed of 48 consecutive patients who had undergone HDC/ASCT with TBC (thiotepa, busulfan, cyclophosphamide) conditioning for PCNSL (27 patients), secondary CNS lymphoma (SCNSL) (8 patients), or relapsed disease with CNS involvement (13 patients) from July 2006 to December 2017. Of the 27 patients with PCNSL, 21 had undergone ASCT at first complete remission (CR1). Results The 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate was 80.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 69.9-92.9) and the 2-year overall survival (OS) rate was 80.1% (95% CI, 69.2%-92.7%) among all patients. The 2-year PFS and OS rate for patients with PCNSL in CR1 was 95.2% (95% CI, 86.6%-100%) and 95.2% (95% CI, 86.6%-100%), respectively. On univariate analysis of the patients with PCNSL, ASCT in CR1 was the only variable statistically significant for outcome (P = .007 for PFS; P = .008 for OS). Among patients with SCNSL or CNS relapse, the 2-year PFS and OS rate were comparable at 75.9% (95% CI, 59.5%-96.8%) and 75.3% (95% CI, 58.6%-98.6%), respectively. The most common side effects were febrile neutropenia (89.6%; of which 66.7% had an infectious etiology identified), nausea/vomiting (85.4%), diarrhea (93.8%), mucositis (89.6%), and electrolyte abnormalities (89.6%). Four patients (8.3%) died of treatment-related overwhelming infection; of these patients, 3 had SCNSL. Conclusion HDC and ASCT using TBC conditioning for both PCNSL and secondary CNS NHL appears to have encouraging long-term efficacy with manageable side effects.