cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Accuracy Is Not Enough: The Task Mismatch Explanation of Algorithm Aversion and Its Policy Implications

Past research has commonly regarded algorithm aversion -- people's hesitation to accept an algorithmic replacement for a human decision-maker -- as the irrational consequence of cognitive biases and defects. By contrast, I argue that it would be irresponsible, even dangerous, for lawmakers and policymakers to systematically ignore popular outcries against algorithms. Such a reaction may highlight previously overlooked deficiencies in the algorithm. This is especially likely where policymakers do not have personal experience in the context they are regulating, for example, navigating the immigration system or requesting state sponsored food or housing assistance. Ultimately, policymakers must weigh the value of what is lost by switching to an algorithm against the value of gains in forecast accuracy, speed, consistency, or cost savings. If the value of the loss, including intangible elements like “human touch,” is substantial relative to the gains, the best course of action may be to abandon or reconfigure the algorithm or the system in which it will operate.
Teaching Law with Online Role-Playing Simulations

This document contains materials prepared for the summer 2011 conference of the Institute for Law Teaching and Learning held at New York Law School. The concise materials include: a listing of useful online tools; documentation for a miniature simulation; suggested components of an "associate" case file; methodology for formative and summative evaluation; and a sample scoresheet incorporating all ten MacCrate skills. A summary of the presentation is provided below:Live websites provide a dynamic “sandbox” for role-playing simulations that cast students as “lawyers” acting for fictional clients. Such simulations, initially crafted for a Cyberlaw class, can also be used in a wide variety of other courses. This provides a highly configurable platform for the immersive and holistic learning of knowledge, skills, and professional identity, including realistic fact-finding, advocacy, negotiation, ethical traps, and much more. The workshop will first provide background on relevant technology and methodology. Second will be a mini role-playing exercise using the live internet. Last will be a discussion of the benefits and challenges of online simulations.
Astrocytic apoE4 and tau: Deadly combination for neurons

New data from Wang and colleagues1 suggest that astrocyte-derived apoE4 drives tau-mediated neurodegeneration. This research highlights how a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease is a major determinant of neurodegeneration in tau-expressing neurons by regulating non-cell-autonomous pathways.
Symposium: Mental Health, Psychology and the Law: Introduction

The authors coordinated and edited a symposium law review issue on Mental Health, Psychology and the Law. The Introduction summarizes submissions that included a memoir from an author whose family members were consumers of mental health services, legal scholars and practitioners who use mental health evidence to defend clients facing the death penalty, and the duty of attorneys to tend to their own mental health care needs while dealing with these emotionally heavy issues.
Investigation of constituent redistribution in U-Pu-Zr fuels and its dependence on varying Zr content

Abstract This contribution investigates fuel constituent segregation and fuel-cladding chemical interactions (FCCI) in three U-Pu-Zr fuel pins irradiated to ∼11% burnup in Experimental Breeder Reactor-II as part of the X441 DP-1 experiment. In examined pins, Zr content ranged from 6 to 10 and 14 wt.%, while Pu concentration was constant at 19 wt.% Pu. The primary goal of the investigation was to determine the role Zr content plays in fuel performance and this manuscript provides assessment of both constituent redistribution and FCCI as a function of axial position. FCCI was observed in all pins, though no cladding failure was noted. Optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results show that variation in Zr content alters the number and relative size of constituent redistribution zones in the fuel. For example, larger Zr-rich central regions and smaller U-rich intermediate regions were observed in 14 wt.% Zr fuels. More importantly, all examined fuels have four or more discrete constituent redistribution regions, where each region has dissimilar morphological features. The existence of four to six distinctive regions deviates from traditionally accepted three region redistribution model, highlights complexity of constituent redistribution in this metal fuel, and identifies the need to conduct additional studies using state-of-the-art instrumentation.
The display’s the thing: A successful interactive, analog community college library display

One of the first things you see when you enter the Kurt R. Schmeller Library on the Queensborough Community College campus are three display cases arranged in a horseshoe, accented with a poster display case on a stand. This prime floor space often serves as a waiting space as students read their texts or wait for friends to join them in the library. Historically, the displays featured rotated content, generally heritage months and other broad topics, with the cases packed full of books (in varying states of repair and condition), artifacts, and matted description and information labels and captions. According to everyone, the displays were routinely ignored.
Computer Quantitation of Irradiated Hamster Sperm Motility

The pattern of hamster sperm motility changes during capacitation (Yanagimachi, 19 70), and is sensitive to the conditions and composition of suspending media in in vitro incubation.
Abstract 1659: Characterizing cytokine secretion in response to dsRNA treatment in ovarian cancer cells

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Ovarian cancer exhibits the lowest long-term survival rates amongst all gynecological cancers, warranting more research directed at finding novel therapies, especially for late-stage disease. Inflammation is known to affect cancer progression, with tumor-promoting or repressive effects possible in different contexts, where the types of leukocytes at the tumor site are heavily implicated in disease prognosis. Tumor-associated macrophages and T-regulatory cells, for example, are known to promote tumor growth by inhibiting the anti-cancer response and by secreting pro-angiogenic factors. Importantly, the specific processes and cellular signaling pathways leading up to leukocyte infiltration in different cancer types remain to be fully elucidated. We hypothesize that dsRNA in the vicinity of ovarian cancer cells (such as from a viral infection or cellular debris) can activate pro-inflammatory regulators in tumor cells, in particular the NF-KB transcription factor, the aberrant over-activation of which is implicated in many cancers. NF-KB activation results in increased production and secretion of numerous cytokines that can in turn recruit pro-angiogenic leukocytes to the tumor microenvironment, thus favoring cancer progression. Herewith, we evaluated the production of numerous cytokines after dsRNA treatment in mouse and human ovarian cancer cells. Additionally, we determined which of the four known dsRNA receptors contributes most to this process. Consistently with our hypothesis, we have shown an increase in several pro-inflammatory cytokines (eg. CCL5 and IL6) in response to dsRNA treatment in both human and mouse ovarian cancer cell lines. We have also determined that the dsRNA receptor MDA5 contributes the most to dsRNA-induced cytokine secretion in both human and mouse ovarian cancer cell lines employing siRNA-directed knock-down of each receptor. Altogether, these data suggest that dsRNA-induced signaling in ovarian cancer cells may facilitate a tumor-favoring environment; thus dsRNA-sensing receptors may constitute attractive therapeutic targets for cancer immunotherapy. Further studies in our lab will determine the specific signaling pathways responsible for the upregulated cytokines as well as use a mouse model to examine the effect of dsRNA receptor knock-down in the cancer cells on tumor growth, angiogenesis, and the leukocyte infiltration profile. Citation Format: Maria Muccioli, Michelle Pate, Fabian Benencia. Characterizing cytokine secretion in response to dsRNA treatment in ovarian cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1659. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1659
Cellular mechanisms of addiction (468.2)

Smokers consume tobacco to obtain rewarding effects of nicotine, but to successfully maintain the habit they must titrate their intake to avoid noxious effects of nicotine. In contrast to nicotine reward, very little is known about brain circuitries that regulate nicotine avoidance. I will present evidence that nicotine activates neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) that synthesize the neuropeptide glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1). The antidiabetic drugs sitagliptin (Januvia) and exenatide (Byetta), which inhibit GLP-1 breakdown and stimulate GLP-1 receptors (GLP-1Rs), respectively, will be shown to decrease nicotine intake in mice. Chemicogenetic stimulation of GLP-1 neurons in NTS using DREADDs also decreases nicotine intake. Conversely, GLP-1R knockout mice are more sensitive to nicotine reward and consume greater quantities of nicotine than wildtype mice. The interpeduncular nucleus (IPN) densely expresses GLP-1Rs and GLP-1-containing neurons project from NTS to IPN. Using optogenetic and el...
A multi-microprocessor vector arithmetic unit

A multimicroprocessor vector arithmetic unit, which is an external device that connects to a host computer through a high-speed IEEE-488 interface is described, and its performance is discussed. The unit performs high-speed vector and matrix operations for a host microcomputer. The system contains Texas Instruments TMS32020 digital signal processors which operate in parallel. >
Fully-integrated switched-capacitor voltage regulator with on-chip current-sensing and workload optimization in 32nm SOI CMOS

Efficient, stable, and fast power delivery against fluctuating workloads have become a critical concern for applications from battery-powered devices to high-performance servers. With high density on-chip capacitors, fully-integrated switched-capacitor (SC) voltage converters provide high efficiency down-conversion from a battery or off-chip voltage regulation modules. However, maintaining such efficiency with minimal supply noise across a wide range of fluctuating load currents remains challenging. In this paper, we propose an on-chip current sensing technique to dynamically modulate both switching frequency and switch widths of SC voltage converters, enhancing fast transient response and higher efficiency across a wide range of load currents. In conjunction with SC converters, we employ a low-dropout regulator (LDO) driven by a push-pull operational transconductance amplifier (OTA), whose current is mirrored and sensed with minimal power and efficiency overhead. The sensed load current directly controls the frequency and width of SC converters through a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) and a time-to-digital converter, respectively. In 32nm SOI CMOS, the proposed voltage regulator maintains 77–82% efficiency at 0.95V output voltage with less than 20mV steady-state ripple across 10X load current range of 100mA–1A and 33mV droop voltage for a 80mA/ns load transition, while providing a projected current density of 6W/mm2.
Determinants of Sourcing During Technology Growth and Maturity: An Empirical Study of e-Commerce Sourcing

This paper conducts a two-period dynamic analysis of sourcing mode choices for e-commerce projects implemented by large firms during 1999-2002. We differentiate e-commerce assets that are the focus of a sourcing decision in terms of whether they are in the growth or maturity stages. We also consider hybrid governance mechanisms, such as minority equity arrangements, as a potential sourcing mode in addition to the conventional distinction between insourcing (i.e., hierarchical governance) and outsourcing (i.e., market governance). The rapid evolution in e-commerce technologies and their markets during this period allows us to test whether asset maturity plays any role in sourcing decisions. Results indicate that when the strategic intent of an e-commerce project is more business focused during the growth phase, hybrid governance is preferred over hierarchical governance for sourcing of e-commerce assets. Strategic intent is found not to influence sourcing mode choices during the technology/market maturity phase. Hierarchical governance is the preferred sourcing mode during the growth phase, when task complexity is high. For managing task complexity, as technologies and their markets mature, both hierarchical and hybrid governance modes become preferable to the market governance mode.
Introductory Examples: Simulation, Estimation, and Graphics

Because simulation is a major topic of this book, it seems appropriate to start with a few simple simulations. For now, we limit ourselves to simulations based on the R-language function sample.
An ellipsoidal representation of human hand anthropometry

Anthropometric data concerning the heometry of the hand's surface are presently modeled as a function of gross external hand measurements; an effort is made to evaluate the accuracy with which ellipsoids describe the geometry of the hand segments. Graphical comparisons indicate that differences between the ellipsoidal approximations and the breadth and depth measurements were greatest near the joints. On the bases of the present data, a set of overlapping ellipsoids could furnish a more accurate representation of hand geometry for adaptation to ellipsoid segment-geometry employing biomechanical models.
Grading Practices That Increase Teacher Effectiveness

Within the last five years, the amount of record keeping needed in reading classes has increased dramatically. The continuing need to document students' levels of reading ability grows out of the increasing complexity specialization, competition, and population of our country. The major ramification for reading teachers is that we must develop skills in grading and documenting reading performance as we teach. Teachers need to call on the most effective and efficient methods of grading. The purpose of this article is to describe several record-keeping and grading practices and their value to student learning; discuss the number of long-range, higher-level-thinking projects one can grade; and discuss feedback for students and its timing. I recommend to teachers that they try one of the following methods of grading each week. By checking off each method as it is used, teachers can learn a wide variety of grading methods by the end of a year.
Model based recognition using 3D line sets and multidimensional Hausdorff distance

In this paper, we proposed a three dimensional (3D) line based matching algorithm using multi-dimensional Hausdorff distance. Classical line based recognition techniques using Hausdorff distance deals with two dimensional (2D) models and 2D images. In our proposed 3D line based matching technique, two sets of lines are extracted from a 3D model and 3D image (constructed by stereo imaging). For matching these line sets, we used multidimensional Hausdorff distance minimization technique which requires only to find the translation between the image and the model, whereas most of the model based recognition techniques require to find the rotation, scale and translation variations between the image and the models. A line based approach for model based recognition using four dimensional (4D) Hausdorff distance has been already proposed in Ref. [1]. However, our method requires a 4D Hausdorff distance calculation followed by a 3D Hausdorff distance calculation. In the proposed method, as the matching is performed using 3D line sets, it is more reliable and accurate.
Room Airflow Studies Using Sonic Anemometry

To ensure prompt response by real-time air monitors to an accidental release of toxic aerosols in a workplace, safety professionals should understand airflow patterns. This understanding can be achieved with validated computational fluid dynamics (CFD) computer simulations, or with experimental techniques, such as measurements with smoke, neutrally buoyant markers, trace gases, or trace aerosol particles. As a supplementary technique to quantify airflows, the use of a state-of-the art, three-dimensional sonic anemometer was explored. This instrument allows for the precise measurements of the air-velocity vector components in the range of a few centimeters per second, which is common in many indoor work environments. Measurements of air velocities and directions at selected locations were made for the purpose of providing data for characterizing fundamental aspects of indoor air movement in two ventilated rooms and for comparison to CFD model predictions. One room was a mockup of a plutonium workroom, and the other was an actual functioning plutonium workroom. In the mockup room, air-velocity vector components were measured at 19 locations at three heights (60, 120 and 180 cm) with average velocities varying from 1.4 cm s-1 to 9.7 cm s-1. There were complex flow patterns observed with turbulence intensities from 39% up to 108%. In the plutonium workroom, measurements were made at the breathing-zone height, recording average velocities ranging from 9.9 cm s-1 to 35.5 cm s-1 with turbulence intensities from 33% to 108%.
A method for the determination of furanose ring coordinates in its pseudorotation circuit for different amplitudes of pucker.

Abstract Interconversion between energetically favored molecular conformations must proceed through less favored intermediate states. Thus, a knowledge of the nucleotide furanose ring conformations, other than the crystallographically well-determined ones, are of interest in investigating nucleotide conformational energies and dynamics. The sugar ring flexibility affects the conformation and dynamics of the monomer and determines the range of feasible nucleic acid secondary and tertiary structures. We have generated furanose geometries for varying amplitudes of pucker over its entire range of pseudorotation by making use of a ring closure procedure and the empirical dependence of endocyclic bond lengths and bond angles on sugar pucker. Atomic coordinates are tabulated here for the furanose ring at pseudorotation phase angle intervals of 9° for the average amplitude (τm) of pucker of 39∘ as well as for decreased (20∘ and 30∘) and increased (44∘) values of τm. However, the coordinates for any values of P an...
Secondary hydrogen isotope effect for the transition from olefin to free radical

Secondary kinetic isotope effects occur in radical additions to deuterated olefins. Substitution of a deuterium at a carbon undergoing an sp2 to sp3 hybridization-change during reaction, Cβ in eq. (1), leads to an inverse isotope effect of 3–5% (kH/kD = 0.95–0.97). The effect at a carbon going from an olefinic to a radical center, Cα in eq. (1), generally has been assumed to be negligible, since a nominal sp2 hybridization is maintained throughout reaction. Using new, sensitive instrumentation for radioactivity determination and a recently developed quench correction technique, we now find that there is a small, normal isotope effect (kH/kT 1) associated with a change from olefin to radical. Specifically, when R· is the polystyryl radical, X is phenyl, and the α-C bears a tritium, kH/kT = 1.04. This result is discussed in relation to recent data on cycloaddition reactions.
Compliance and quality of life in patients on prescribed voice rest.

Objectives. To determine patient compliance with voice rest and the impact of voice rest on quality of life (QOL).Study Design. Prospective.Setting. University hospital.Subjects and Methods. Demogr...
Comparative hemodynamic and clinical effects of long-term treatment with prazosin and captopril for severe chronic congestive heart failure secondary to coronary artery disease or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Abstract Short- and long-term hemodynamic and clinical responses to sequential therapy with prazosin (15 mg/day for 3 to 12 weeks) and captopril (75 to 300 mg/day for 2 to 15 weeks) were compared in 22 patients with severe chronic congestive heart failure. First doses of prazosin produced marked increases in cardiac index and stroke volume index (p
Material properties of Cd 1−x Mg x O transparent conductors

We have studied structural, electrical and optical properties of ternary Cd1-xMgxO alloy thin films synthesized by radio frequency magnetron sputtering method with Mg content as high as x=0.44. We found that only a fraction (50-60%) of Mg is incorporated as substitutional Mg contributing to the modification of the electronic structure of the alloy. The electrical and optical results of the Cd1-xMgxO alloys are analyzed in terms of a large upward shift of the conduction band edge with increasing Mg content. The rapid increase of the optical band gap offers a potential of using Cd-rich CdMgO alloys as transparent conductors for photovoltaics.
Twenty Years after Tarasoff: Reviewing the Duty to Protect

Since the Tarasoff decision by the California Supreme Court in 1974, mental health clinicians have struggled to balance their duty of confidentiality to their patients against the duty to protect third parties from potential violence. This article explores the development of this issue over the last 20 years, with a focus on ways that Tarasoff has and has not affected clinical practice. Reviewing the evolution of case and statutory law, we discuss appropriate clinical responses for the mental health practitioner who faces a potential "duty to protect" situation.
Deep brain stimulation response in pathologically confirmed cases of multiple system atrophy

Deep brain stimulation is a treatment for select cases of medication refractory movement disorders including Parkinson's disease. Deep brain stimulation has not been recommended for treatment in multiple system atrophy patients. However, the paucity of literature documenting the effects of deep brain stimulation in multiple system atrophy patients and the revelation of a levodopa responsive subtype of multiple system atrophy suggests further investigation is necessary. This study summarizes the positive and negative effects of deep brain stimulation treatment in two pathologically confirmed multiple system atrophy patients from the University of Florida Deep Brain Stimulation-Brain Tissue Network. Clinical diagnosis for the two patient cases did not match the neuropathological diagnosis. We noted that in both pathologically confirmed multiple system atrophy patients, death occurred as a result of myocardial infarction. Importantly, there was reported transient benefit in levodopa responsive features that indicate deep brain stimulation may be an option for select multiple system atrophy patients.
Photoelectron Spectroscopy of Cold Hydrated Sulfate Clusters, SO42−(H2O)n (n = 4−7): Temperature-Dependent Isomer Populations

Sulfate is an important inorganic anion and its interactions with water are essential to understand its chemistry in aqueous solution. Studies of sulfate with well-controlled solvent numbers provide molecular-level information about the solute−solvent interactions and critical data to test theoretical methods for weakly bounded species. Here we report a low-temperature photoelectron spectroscopy study of hydrated sulfate clusters SO42−(H2O)n (n = 4−7) at 12 K and ab initio studies to understand the structures and dynamics of these unique solvated systems. A significant increase of electron binding energies was observed for the 12 K spectra relative to those at room temperature, suggesting different structural isomers were populated as a function of temperature. Theoretical calculations revealed a competition between isomers with optimal water−solute and water−water interactions. The global minimum isomers all possess higher electron binding energies due to their optimal water-solute interactions, giving r...
Factor Structure of the Job Stress Questionnaire (JSQ) in Three Occupational Groups.

The purpose of the present study was to analyze the internal consistency and factorial composition of the Job Stress Questionnaire (JSQ), a perceptual measure of job related stress, and to compare ...
The reaction between aqueous uranyl ion and the surface of silica gel

An apparent equilibrium constant, K, for the reaction UO2++ + 2(≡SiOH) = UO2(OSi)2 + 2H+ is determined at 0.01–0.4 MUO2(NO3)2 at five temperatures from 5° to 65°C. Extrapolation to infinite dilution gives K's from which ΔF2980 = 8.2 kcal./mole, ΔH° = 3.5 kcal./mole, and ΔS2980 = −16 e. u. These results are compared with the known structure of UO3 and the aqueous uranyl ion, and the suggestion is made that the axis of the linear uranyl ion is either parallel and close to the plane of the surface, or actually in the plane of the surface. The two silanol oxygens which become negatively charged when the uranyl ion replaces hydrogens of these groups lie near the equator of the uranyl ion and they bond to the positively charged uranium atom.
Revisiting Optical Clearing with Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO): In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

Functional optical characterization of disease progression and response to therapy suffers from loss of spatial resolution and imaging depth due to scattering, impacting the ability of researchers to localize and quantify molecular processes. Here we report on the ability of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to reduce temporarily the optical scattering of skin. Data collected from in vitro phantom images and in vivo fluorescence images demonstrate the potential of this simple method to mitigate the blurring effects of scattering with topical application, which we expect will improve the accuracy and localization of in vivo molecular imaging studies.
Control of nanoenergetics through organized microstructures

Heavily doped p-type silicon substrates were etched to form thick porous layers (~170 µm) and impregnated with magnesium perchlorate to form reactive composites. Characterization of the reactive wave propagation by high speed photography and spectroscopic methods indicated slow propagation rates between 1 and 8 m s−1. Multiscale structures were formed on the same substrates using microfabrication techniques followed by an electrochemical etch based on a random micro-crack pattern observed in lower doped substrates which yielded faster propagating composites. These organized multiscale composites exhibited flame propagation speeds up to 500 m s−1 indicating that reaction propagation can be controlled by structural modifications.
Review of formulations for structural and mechanical system optimization

Alternative formulations for optimization and simulation of structural and mechanical systems and other related fields are reviewed. The material is divided roughly into two parts. Part 1 focuses on the developments in structural and mechanical systems, including configuration and topology optimization. Here the formulations are classified into three broad categories: (i) the conventional formulation where only the structural design variables are treated as optimization variables, (ii) simultaneous analysis and design (SAND) formulations where design and some of the state variables are treated as optimization variables, and (iii) a displacement-based two-phase approach where the displacements are treated as unknowns in the outer loop and the design variables as the unknowns in the inner loop. Part 2 covers more general formulations that are applicable to diverse fields, such as economics, optimal control, multidisciplinary problems and other engineering disciplines. In these fields, SAND-type formulations have been called mathematical programs with equilibrium constraints (MPEC), and partial differential equations (PDE)-constrained optimization problems. These formulations are viewed as generalizations of the SAND formulations developed in the structural optimization field. Based on the review, it is concluded that the basic ideas of the formulations presented in diverse fields can be integrated to conduct further research and develop alternative formulations and solution procedures for practical engineering applications. The paper lists 187 references on the subject.
Mos1 Transposase Thermodynamic Stability and Flexibility

DNA transposons are mobile DNA elements that can move (or transpose) from one DNA molecule to another and thereby deliver genetic information into human chromosomes in order to confer a new function or replace a defective gene. This process is catalyzed by a transposase enzyme. The reaction of transposition occurs in several steps, during which two or more transposase enzymes bind to the terminal inverted repeats on the transposon DNA, bring them together to form a synaptic complex, excise the gene flanked by the terminal inverted repeats, and catalyze strand transfer to insert the excised gene at a new location. Thus, transposases must be sufficiently flexible to allow conformational rearrangements of their domains to bind the transposon DNA and to supply a catalytic site during each step of transposition. Here, we investigate the dynamics, thermodynamic stability, and flexibility of Mos1 transposase, a member of the Tc1/mariner family of transposases. We use a computational model called the minimum Distance Constraint Model (mDCM) and the analysis of quantitative stability/flexibility relationships (QSFR). With these tools, we determine the free energy landscape and the flexibility and mechanical coupling of secondary structure elements or residues in Mos1. Our data provide an insight into how Mos1 is structured and how it functions and are applicable to Tc1/mariner transposases in general.
High-efficiency integrated multijunction photovoltaic/electrolysis systems for hydrogen production

Abstract In this study, two integrated PV/electrolysis systems were studied. An integrated PV/electrolysis device is a device where the PV system and the electrolyser are combined into a single system. In the case studied here, the areas of the PV device and the electrolyzer are identical. Multijunction photovoltaic (PV)/electrolysis configurations were investigated, and a high solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency cell demonstrated. The energy diagram of the configuration has been evaluated and exemplified with n/p, n/p-GaInP/GaAs(Pt)/KOH electrolyte and triple-junction p–i–n a-Si(Pt)/KOH electrolyte photovoltaic/electrolysis cells. The efficiency of the cells was determined based on the short-circuit photocurrent. Measurements were obtained both indoors under 100-mW/cm 2 insolation, and outdoors. For the a-Si system, a 7.8% solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency was demonstrated. For the GaAs/GaInP 2 system, the solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency was over 16%.
HIGH QUALITY CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION AND THE ROLE OF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

We are entering a new era where the demands for quality will include higher expectations of faculty, students, and practitioners. Now is the time for action and decision. Criminal justice education has rapidly matured; rather than being complacent about the progress we’ve made, we should take the lead and become acknowledged as pacesetters for high educational standards. Recommendations for improving the quality of higher education must be considered with sincerity and diligence. The capability for excellence is present in the conscientious faculty residing in each and every criminal justice program. With proper nurturing and support, these faculty would flourish and this excellence come into full bloom. Furthermore, the task of achieving quality education in all fields will not and must not fall to one group for action. We are faced with the necessity of bringing all factions together—teacher, administrator, student, and practitioner—to develop and implement solutions to today’s education problems, not as a last resort, but in recognition of change as a constant reality. The time for change is always now.
The Perception of Interpersonal Behavior Dimensionality and Importance of the Social Environment

This study explores in detail the structure of group and individual conceptions of interpersonal interaction in various environmental settings. It is shown that the conceptualization of the environ...
Recent Advances in Non-Intrusive Polynomial Chaos and Stochastic Collocation Methods for Uncertainty Analysis and Design

Non-intrusive polynomial chaos expansion (PCE) and stochastic collocation (SC) methods are attractive techniques for uncertainty quantification (UQ) due to their strong mathematical basis and ability to produce functional representations of stochastic variability. PCE estimates coefficients for known orthogonal polynomial basis functions based on a set of response function evaluations, using sampling, linear regression, tensor-product quadrature, or Smolyak sparse grid approaches. SC, on the other hand, forms interpolation functions for known coefficients, and requires the use of structured collocation point sets derived from tensor product or sparse grids. When tailoring the basis functions or interpolation grids to match the forms of the input uncertainties, exponential convergence rates can be achieved with both techniques for a range of probabilistic analysis problems. In addition, analytic features of the expansions can be exploited for moment estimation and stochastic sensitivity analysis. In this paper, the latest ideas for tailoring these expansion methods to numerical integration approaches will be explored, in which expansion formulations are modified to best synchronize with tensor-product quadrature and Smolyak sparse grids using linear and nonlinear growth rules. The most promising stochastic expansion approaches are then carried forward for use in new approaches for mixed aleatory-epistemic UQ, employing second-order probability approaches, and design under uncertainty, employing bilevel, sequential, and multifidelity approaches.
Mesenteric Arterial Relaxation to Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide Is Increased During Pregnancy and by Sex Steroid Hormones

The present study investigated whether pregnancy and circulatory ovarian hormones increase the sensitivity of the mesenteric artery to calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-induced relaxation and possible mechanisms involved in this process. Mesenteric arteries from young adult male rats or female rats (during estrous cycle, after ovariectomy, at Day 20 of gestation, or Postpartum Day 2) were isolated, and the responsiveness of the vessels to CGRP was examined with a small vessel myograph. The CGRP (10(-10) to 10(-7) M) produced a concentration-dependent relaxation of norepinephrine-induced contractions in mesenteric arteries of all groups. Arterial relaxation sensitivity to CGRP was significantly (P < 0.05) greater in female rats compared with male rats. Pregnancy increased the sensitivity to CGRP significantly (P < 0.05) compared to ovariectomized and Postpartum Day 2 rats. In pregnant rats, CGRP-receptor antagonist, CGRP(8-37), inhibited the relaxation responses produced by CGRP. The CGRP-induced relaxation was not affected by N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (nitric oxide inhibitor, 10(-4) M) but was significantly (P < 0.05) attenuated by an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase (1H-[1 , 2 , 4 ]oxadizaolo[4 , 3 -a]quinoxalin-1-one, 10(-5) M). Relaxation responses of CGRP on mesenteric arteries were blocked (P < 0.05) by a cAMP-dependent protein kinase A inhibitor, Rp-cAMPs (10(-5) M). The CGRP-induced vasorelaxation was significantly (P < 0.05) attenuated by calcium-dependent (tetraethylammonium, 10(-3) M), but not ATP-sensitive (glybenclamide, 10(-5) M), potassium channel blocker. Therefore, the results of the present study suggest that mesenteric vascular sensitivity to CGRP is higher during pregnancy and that cAMP, cGMP, and calcium-dependent potassium channels appear to be involved. Therefore, we propose that CGRP-mediated vasodilation may be important to maintain vascular adaptations during pregnancy.
Resistance of Soybean Cultivars to Field Populations of Heterodera glycines in North Carolina

The soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines, is the most important pathogen of soybean, Glycine max, in North Carolina. Cultural practices are the most effective means of managing this pathogen because a majority of cultivars are susceptible to the races of this nematode that predominate in the state. Resistant and susceptible cultivars were evaluated in 14 H. glycines-infested fields from 1992 to 1999. Resistance in cvs. Hartwig and Delsoy 5710, and line S92-1603 derived from plant introduction (PI) 437654, was highly effective against all populations of H. glycines evaluated in these experiments. Numbers of cysts (cysts and white females) per three plants 28 days after planting and final egg population densities (Pf) were lower than on other cultivars evaluated. Cultivars with SCN resistance derived from PI 90763 were moderately resistant in many of the test fields, but cultivars with Peking-derived resistance were effective at only two locations. Some cultivars with resistance derived from PI 88788 were highly to moderately resistant to races 9 or 14 of SCN, but were not consistently effective against other populations. Hartwig and Delsoy 5710 had low SCN reproductive factors (Rf = egg density at harvest/mean egg density at planting for site) of 0.16 and 0.23 compared with an Rf of 1.9 and 2.19 on the susceptible cvs. Essex and Hutcheson, respectively. In contrast, the Rf on cultivars derived from Peking generally was greater than on susceptible cultivars. Resistant cvs. Hartwig and Delsoy 5710 generally yielded more than susceptible cultivars or cultivars derived from other sources of resistance. The initial inoculum level (Pi) was negatively correlated with soybean seed yield, but cysts 28 days after planting proved to be better at predicting seed yield than Pi. Due to the genetic diversity of H. glycines populations with regard to the ability to parasitize resistant cultivars, cultivars with resistance derived from PI 437654 or other genotypes are needed to manage this nematode in North Carolina.
Reconsidering Roger Bacon's Apocalypticism in Light of His Alchemical and Scientific Thought

“Since you have commanded me to write on the wisdom of philosophy, I shall cite to your Clemency the opinions of the sages, especially since this knowledge is absolutely necessary to the Church of God against the fury of Antichrist.”1 So wrote Roger Bacon to Clement IV. The pope had commanded Bacon to send writings of which Roger had spoken when Clement was still Cardinal Guy Folques.2 Clement's letter does not mention Antichrist, nor does it specify the subject matter of the aforementioned conversation. Still, since Bacon mentions Antichrist in what was likely a prefatory letter to either the Opus maius or Opus minus,3 the specter of Antichrist that lurks throughout Bacon's Opera and other works may not have come as a surprise. Yet, amid the clamor of Joachite apocalypticism that quickly coiled itself around the Franciscan Order in the latter half of the thirteenth century,4 Roger Bacon's own apocalyptic opinions remain underappreciated. This is not to say that Bacon's apocalypticism has gone unrecognized. Scholars have long agreed, as Brett Whalen has said recently, that Bacon “layered his writings with a sense of apocalyptic expectation.”5 Yet the historiographical tendency to separate Bacon's scientific writings from his religious beliefs and practices appears to have obscured Bacon's own radical ideas about the end of days.6
Staffing models for covert counterterrorism agencies

Abstract This article presents staffing models for covert counterterrorism agencies such as the New York City Police Department, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, Britain's Security Service or the Israeli Shin Bet. The models ask how many good guys are needed to catch the bad guys, and how should agents be deployed? Building upon the terror queue model of the detection and interdiction of terror plots by undercover agents, the staffing models developed respond to objectives such as: prevent a specified fraction of terror attacks, maximize the benefits-minus-costs of preventing attacks, staff in expectation that smart terrorists will attack with a rate that optimizes their outcomes, and allocate a fixed number of agents across groups to equalize detection rates, or prevent as many attacks as possible, or prevent as many attack casualties as possible. Numerical examples based on published data describing counterterrorism operations in the United States and Israel are provided throughout.
Methylene blue inhibits amyloid Aβ oligomerization by promoting fibrillization

Amyloid plaques are hallmark neuropathological lesions in Alzheimer's disease, which consist of abnormally aggregated Abeta protein. Multiple Abeta aggregated species have been identified, and neurotoxicity appears to be correlated with the amount of nonfibrillar oligomers. Therefore, selective inhibition of Abeta oligomer formation has emerged as an attractive means of therapeutic intervention. To investigate whether small molecules can modulate aggregation to achieve selective inhibition of neurotoxic amyloid oligomers, Abeta aggregation was assayed in vitro in the presence of methylene blue, using immunoreactivity with the prefibrillar oligomer-specific antibody A11, transmission electron microscopy, and turbidity assays. Methylene blue inhibited oligomerization when used at substoichiometric concentrations relative to that of the Abeta monomer. Inhibition of Abeta oligomerization was achieved concomitant with promotion of fibrillization, suggesting that oligomer and fibril formation are distinct and competing pathways. Methylene blue-mediated promotion of fiber formation occurred via a dose-dependent decrease in the lag time and an increase in the fibrillization rate, consistent with promotion of both filament nucleation and elongation. Addition of methylene blue to preformed oligomers resulted in oligomer loss and promotion of fibrillization. The data show that Abeta oligomer formation is inhibited by promoting fibril formation, which suggests that the relative pathological significance of oligomers and fibrils may be tested in vivo using methylene blue. If Abeta oligomers represent the primary pathogenic species, then inhibition of this highly toxic species via promotion of formation of less toxic aggregates may be therapeutically useful.
BEM formulation for steady-state conduction-convection problems with variable velocities

Abstract Development of a boundary-element method (BEM) for steady-state conduction-convection problems with an arbitrary velocity field is the principal focus of this article. The steady-state fundamental solution for a moving heat source is used in the present approach. An arbitrary velocity field is decomposed into a constant part and a variable part. In addition to the boundary integrals for the constant-velocity case, variable velocity requires a domain integral in the BEM formulation. Both iterative and noniterative schemes have been used to solve the BEM equation including the domain integral term. Numerical results obtained from the proposed formulation are first validated against analytical results. Other example problems are then investigated and a detailed parametric study is conducted to understand the effects of the decomposition level and mesh refinement. The proposed BEM formulation is found to produce stable and accurate solutions under a variety of conditions for steady-state conduction-c...
Altering the nucleophile specificity of a protein-tyrosine phosphatase- catalyzed reaction: Probing the function of the invariant glutamine residues

Protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) catalysis involves a cysteinyl phosphate intermediate, in which the phosphoryl group cannot be transferred to nucleophiles other than water. The dual specificity phosphatases and the low molecular weight phosphatases utilize the same chemical mechanism for catalysis and contain the same (H/V)C(X)5R(S/T) signature motif present in PTPases. Interestingly, the latter two groups of phosphatases do catalyze phosphoryl transfers to alcohols in addition to water. Unique to the PTPase family are two invariant Gln residues which are located at the active site. Mutations at Gln-446 (and to a much smaller extent Gln-450) to Ala, Asn, or Met (but not Glu) residues disrupt a bifurcated hydrogen bond between the side chain of Gln-446 and the nucleophilic water and confer phosphotransferase activity to the Yersinia PTPase. Thus, the conserved Gln-446 residue is responsible for maintaining PTPases' strict hydrolytic activity and for preventing the PTPases from acting as kinases to phosphorylate undesirable substrates. This explains why phosphoryl transfer from the phosphoenzyme intermediate in PTPases can only occur to water and not to other nucleophilic acceptors. Detailed kinetic analyses also suggest roles for Gln-446 and Gln-450 in PTPase catalysis. Although Gln-446 is not essential for the phosphoenzyme formation step, it plays an important role during the hydrolysis of the intermediate by sequestering and positioning the nucleophilic water in the active site for an in-line attack on the phosphorus atom of the cysteinyl phosphate intermediate. Gln-450 interacts through a bound water molecule with the phosphoryl moiety and may play a role for the precise alignment of active site residues, which are important for substrate binding and transition state stabilization for both of the chemical steps.
Diffusional mobility of Golgi proteins in membranes of living cells

The mechanism by which Golgi membrane proteins are retained within the Golgi complex in the midst of a continuous flow of protein and lipid is not yet understood. The diffusional mobilities of mammalian Golgi membrane proteins fused with green fluorescent protein from Aequorea victoria were measured in living HeLa cells with the fluorescence photobleaching recovery technique. The diffusion coefficients ranged from 3 × 10 −9 square centimeters per second to 5 × 10 −9 square centimeters per second, with greater than 90 percent of the chimeric proteins mobile. Extensive lateral diffusion of the chimeric proteins occurred between Golgi stacks. Thus, the chimeras diffuse rapidly and freely in Golgi membranes, which suggests that Golgi targeting and retention of these molecules does not depend on protein immobilization.