cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect test spaces and effect algebras

The concept of an effect test space, which is equivalent to a D-test space of Dvurecenskij and Pulmannova, is introduced. Connections between effect test space. (E-test space, for short) morphisms, and event-morphisms as well as between algebraic E-test spaces and effect algebras, are studied. Bimorphisms and E-test space tensor products are considered. It is shown that any E-test space admits a unique (up to an isomorphism) universal group and that this group, considered as a test group, determines the E-test space uniquely (up to an isomorphism).
Biased graphs whose matroids are special binary matroids

Abiased graph is a graph together with a class of polygons such that no theta subgraph contains exactly two members of the class. To a biased graphΩ are naturally associated three edge matroids:G(Ω), L(Ω), L0(Ω). We determine all biased graphs for which any of these matroids is isomorphic to the Fano plane, the polygon matroid ofK4,K5 orK3,3, any of their duals, Bixby's regular matroidR10, or the polygon matroid ofKm form > 5. In each case the bias is derived from edge signs. We conclude by finding the biased graphsΩ for whichL0(Ω) is not a graphic [or, regular matroid but every proper contraction is.
The effects of glass-fiber sizings on the strength and energy absorption of the fiber/matrix interphase under high loading rates

Abstract The interphases of various sized E-glass-fiber/epoxy-amine systems were tested at displacement rates in the range 230–2450 μm/s by a new experimental technique (dynamic micro-debonding technique). By this method, the rate-dependent interphase properties, apparent shear strength and absorbed energies due to debonding and frictional sliding, were quantified. The systems include unsized, epoxy-amine compatible, and epoxy-amine incompatible glass fibers. The high displacement rates that induce high-strain-rate interphase loading were obtained by using the rapid expansion capability of piezoelectric actuators (PZT). The results of dynamic micro-debonding experiments showed that the values of interphase strength and specific absorbed energies varied in a manner that is dependent on the sizing and exhibited significant sensitivity to loading rates. The unsized fibers exhibit greater frictional sliding energies that could provide better ballistic resistance, while the compatible sized fibers show higher strength values that improve the structural integrity of the polymeric composites. In addition, significantly higher amounts of energy are absorbed within the frictional sliding regime compared to debonding. By using the experimental data obtained, a case study was performed to reveal the importance of the interphase related micro damage modes on energy absorption (and therefore ballistic performance) of glass/epoxy composite armor.
The Uptake of Pyrimidine Nucleosides in Tetrahymena. I. Uridine

SYNOPSIS. Uridine uptake was examined in Tetrahymena pyriformis GL-7 in defined medium under conditions where food vacuole formation is not a significant factor in solute acquisition by the cell. The results indicate the presence of a saturable mechanism which follows Michaelis-Menten kinetics. When corrected for diffusion the apparent Km for the carrier is 2.3 ± 0.6 μM and the Vmax is 7.3 ± 0.2 × 10−7 nmoles/cell/min. It is evident from nucleotide pool analysis that most of the radioactivity of externally supplied [3H]uridine appears in UMP with the remainder in UTP. Uridine is apparently phosphorylated immediately upon entry into the cell and neither uridine-cytidine kinase activity nor RNA synthesis are rate-limiting in the uptake process. Uridine transport is competitively inhibited by a variety of ribo- and deoxyribonucleosides as well as several nucleoside analogs. Neither uracil nor ribose or deoxyribose are effective inhibitors of uridine transport indicating the carrier is specific for the nucleoside. There is little difference between the Ki values for ribo- as opposed to deoxyribonucleosides except in the case of deoxyguanosine which is much less effective as an inhibitor under the conditions of this study, than all the other nucleosides, including guanosine.
An undergraduate hardware project: controlling a smart robot by breadboard circuitry

Abstract We present here a simple Z80-based circuit used to control a smart robot. While the circuitry illustrates important features of a modern computer, it can be easily assembled by students on a breadboard for just a few dollars. The robot used in the project is the Armadillo Model EMR 1020 manufactured by Feedback Incorporated. A four-bit signal is emitted by the robot when it collides with an obstacle; this signal is read by the breadboarded-controller and analysed by the control program in the EPROM; in this way, the control circuity guides the robot to move intelligently. The robot-movement can also be guided manually through sending interrupt signals to the Z80 processor. The students were very enthusiastic and showed great interest towards this project. Through assembling and trouble-shooting the circuits on the breadboard, students grasped much better the principles of the basic architecture of a modern computer which had been very difficult to master by just attending lectures.
Wilms' tumor patients with pulmonary metastases

We have evaluated the clinicopathologic characteristics, survival probabilities, patterns of treatment failure, and late toxicities in a group of 51 Wilms' tumor patients with pulmonary metastases evaluated at our center between 1968 and 1988 and treated intensively with surgery, multiagent chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Twenty-one patients had pulmonary metastases at diagnosis (Stage IV-p) and 30 had pulmonary relapse after initial treatment for nonmetastatic disease. With a median follow-up time of 83 months, actuarial 5- and 10-year survival probability for the group as a whole is 59%. For the subset of patients with favorable histology Stage IV-p disease, 10-year survival probability is 77%, whereas for the subset with relapsed anaplastic or sarcomatous disease, 10-year survival probability is 22%. The lung was the predominant site of failure even in patients who had received relatively high doses of pulmonary radiotherapy. Late effects seen in patients with over 10 years of follow-up included musculoskeletal and soft tissue growth abnormalities (93% incidence) as well as breast hypoplasia and endocrinologic abnormalities. Second malignant neoplasms of the breast, thyroid, and pancreas were observed at post-treatment intervals of 17, 3.5 and 12 years, respectively.
A System Architecture to Support a Verifiably Secure Multilevel Security System

Technology that allows significant sharing of computer resources carries with it an increased responsibility to protect these resources from un-authorized, malicioua, irresponsible, or unintended use or disclosure. The years have seen a progression of increasingly sensitive information made available in increasingly less supervised modes to a variety of users. Commercial users routinely store valuable financial information and conduct cashless transactions electronically. University professors maintain class grading forms and examinations on departmental computers. Government agencies keep extensive databases of sensitive information regarding employees, foreign nationals, U.S. citizens. The military and intelligence communities continue to press for more powerful techniques to enhance their information gathering and processing capabilities. In spite of the clear need for guarantees of security, all practical schemes to protect information stored or manipulated by such systems are either seriously flawed or reduce ultimately to a collection of physical security protocols (ace [1] for an overview of the state of the art).
Pediatric neck masses: guidelines for evaluation

Neck masses are frequent findings in the pediatric population. Unlike the adult, there are few established guidelines for evaluation of these children. The etiology of cervical masses includes many conditions. Knowledge of these conditions and their clinical presentations is essential. To elucidate the clinical characteristics which may help in establishing a correct diagnosis, the charts of 445 patients with biopsies of neck masses performed at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia were analyzed. There were 244 (55%) congenital lesions, 118 (27%) inflammatory lesions, 23 (5%) non-inflammatory benign masses, 12 (3%) benign neoplasms, and 48 (11%) malignancies. The preoperative diagnosis was correct in 270 (61%) patients. Guidelines are established for the evaluation of the child presenting with a neck mass.
Energy analysis of convectively induced wind perturbations

Budgets of divergent and rotational components of kinetic energy (KD and KR) are examined for four upper level wind speed maxima that develop during the fourth Atmospheric Variability Experiment (AVE IV) and the first AVE-Severe Environmental Storms and Mesoscale Experiment (AVE-SESAME I). A similar budget analysis is performed for a low-level jet stream during AVE-SESAME I. The energetics of the four upper level speed maxima is found to have several similarities. The dominant source of KD is cross-contour flow by the divergent wind, and KD provides a major source of KR via a conversion process. Conversion from available potential energy provides an additional source of KR in three of the cases. Horizontal maps reveal that the conversions involving KD are maximized in regions poleward of the convection. Low-level jet development during AVE-SESAME I appears to be assisted by convective activity to the west.
Cabinet instability and delegation in parliamentary democracies

In most parliamentary democracies, two things are true: cabinet ministers delegate to bureaucrats and coalition governments replace cabinet ministers with little advance notice. Many people claim that cabinet instability (i.e., uncertainty about the timing of ministerial replacements) allows bureaucrats to ignore ministerial orders. To evaluate this claim, we present a delegation model that introduces cabinet instability as a variable. We discover numerous cases in which instability has no effect on bureaucratic behavior. We also identify circumstances in which instability causes bureaucrats not to choose policies that would otherwise make both them and their ministers better off. Such outcomes are caused by the bureaucrats' dilemma-the fear that a bureaucrat's efforts will be unrewarded, or even punished, if the incumbent minister is replaced unexpectedly. In general, we find that instability's effects on delegation are usually taken for granted and often misunderstood. With this model, we seek to improve on both counts.
Self-similar solution of a plane-strain fracture driven by a power-law fluid

This paper analyses the problem of a hydraulically driven fracture, propagating in an impermeable, linear elastic medium. The fracture is driven by injection of an incompressible, viscous fluid with power-law rheology and behaviour index n⩾0. The opening of the fracture and the internal fluid pressure are related through the elastic singular integral equation, and the flow of fluid inside the crack is modelled using the lubrication theory. Under the additional assumptions of negligible toughness and no lag between the fluid front and the crack tip, the problem is reduced to self-similar form. A solution that describes the crack length evolution, the fracture opening, the net fluid pressure and the fluid flow rate inside the crack is presented. This self-similar solution is obtained by expanding the fracture opening in a series of Gegenbauer polynomials, with the series coefficients calculated using a numerical minimization procedure. The influence of the fluid index n in the crack propagation is also analysed. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fourier transform infra-red study of uniaxially-oriented isotactic polystyrene

Abstract Fourier transform infra-red measurements have been made of the orientation in isotactic polystyrene as a function of draw ratio. Based on these results, new band assignments are made and orientation functions calculated.
Electrostatic forces in muscle contraction.

Abstract In a previous paper, it was argued that contractile force in muscle originates from the interactions of the electrical double layers on the myofilaments. Based on this theory, calculations are performed using a simplified model system consisting of a regular array of cylindrical filaments of one kind. Solutions to the linearized Poisson-Boltzmann equation are obtained and used to determine the electrostatic energy of the system. The variations in the energy and its Legendre transform with changes in the shape of the system determine the contractile force under conditions of constant surface charge and constant surface potential for the myofilaments, respectively. In spite of the simplified nature of the model, it is shown to exhibit several features of real muscle. Among these are the curves of active and passive tension vs. length, catch tension, and the quick release phenomenon.
Positive and negative successive contrast effects following multiple shifts in reward magnitude under high drive and immediate reinforcement

Multiple shifts in reward amount were given to rats in a straight runway. Both positive and negative contrast effects were observed. A positive contrast effect was observed, however, only if the shift from small to large reward occurred while the subject was evidencing a negative contrast effect. Implications for current conceptions of reinforcement contrast are discussed.
Predicting the effects of a high-energy diet on fatty liver and hippocampal-dependent memory in male rats.

Objective: In rodents, diets exceeding nutritional requirements (i.e., high-energy diets; HED) impair hippocampal-dependent memory. Our research suggests that the effects likely involve HED-induced increases in liver lipids. In this experiment, rats were provided with diet choices to test whether voluntary consumption of a HED impairs spatial memory, whether differences in initial weight gain predict memory deficits, and whether increases in liver lipids are associated with the memory deficits. Design and Methods: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were given a control diet or cafeteria-style HED for 8 weeks. Weight gain during the first 5 days on the diet was used to divide rats into a HED-Lean group and a HED-Obese group. Spatial water maze memory was tested 8 weeks later and postmortem liver lipid concentrations were quantified. Results: Compared with the HED-Lean and control rats, the HED-Obese rats had impaired spatial memory and met the human diagnostic criterion of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (>5% liver lipids relative to liver weight). Moreover, liver lipids were correlated with memory deficits. Conclusions: These findings show that voluntary consumption of a HED impairs memory, that initial weight gain predicts fatty liver and memory deficits, and that fatty liver may contribute to the memory-impairing effects of obesity.
Suites of terpene synthases explain differential terpenoid production in ginger and turmeric tissues.

The essential oils of ginger (Zingiber officinale) and turmeric (Curcuma longa) contain a large variety of terpenoids, some of which possess anticancer, antiulcer, and antioxidant properties. Despite their importance, only four terpene synthases have been identified from the Zingiberaceae family: (+)-germacrene D synthase and (S)-β-bisabolene synthase from ginger rhizome, and α-humulene synthase and β-eudesmol synthase from shampoo ginger (Zingiber zerumbet) rhizome. We report the identification of 25 mono- and 18 sesquiterpene synthases from ginger and turmeric, with 13 and 11, respectively, being functionally characterized. Novel terpene synthases, (−)-caryolan-1-ol synthase and α-zingiberene/β-sesquiphellandrene synthase, which is responsible for formation of the major sesquiterpenoids in ginger and turmeric rhizomes, were also discovered. These suites of enzymes are responsible for formation of the majority of the terpenoids present in these two plants. Structures of several were modeled, and a comparison of sets of paralogs suggests how the terpene synthases in ginger and turmeric evolved. The most abundant and most important sesquiterpenoids in turmeric rhizomes, (+)-α-turmerone and (+)-β-turmerone, are produced from (−)-α-zingiberene and (−)-β-sesquiphellandrene, respectively, via α-zingiberene/β-sesquiphellandrene oxidase and a still unidentified dehydrogenase.
The dual algebraic Riccati equations: Additional results under isomorphism of the Riccati operator

Abstract In the abstract hyperbolic-like case, under a mild exact controllability assumption, the Riccati operator is known to be an isomorphism [F. Flandoli, I. Lasiecka, R. Triggiani, Algebraic Riccati equations with non-smoothing observation arising in hyperbolic and Euler–Bernoulli boundary control problems, Annali di Matematica Pura e Applicata (iv)CLII (1988) 307–382 (Section 6)]. This property then plays a crucial role in establishing a Dual Algebraic Riccati Theory. Here we strengthen this theory by providing additional results (which we had announced in [V. Barbu, I. Lasiecka, R. Triggiani, Extended algebraic Riccati equations in the abstract hyperbolic case, Non-linear Analysis 40 (2000) 105–129] and [R. Triggiani, The algebraic Riccati equation with unbounded control operator: the abstract hyperbolic case revisited, AMS, Contemporary Mathematics 209 (1997) 315–338]): in particular that P D ( A F ) = D ( A ∗ ) and that P D ( A ) = D ( A F ∗ ) .
Does the historical literature on encephalitis lethargica support a simple (direct) relationship with postencephalitic Parkinsonism

This article and the subsequent one suggest that the currently accepted view of a simplistic (direct) relationship between encephalitis lethargica (EL) and postencephalitic Parkinsonism (PEP) is based on a incomplete evaluation of the epidemic period literature. In this article we provide a detailed analysis of the literature from the period that demonstrates that Parkinsonism was not initially part of acute EL symptomatology, that PEP was not typically the prevailing type of chronic EL and that oculogyric crises were never part of acute EL symptomatology and not initially associated with PEP. The second paper uses these finding, and also examines the clinical justifications for concluding that all patients with PEP had prior acute episodes of EL, to reevaluate the presumed direct etiologic relationship between EL and PEP.
Crossover from Unentangled to Entangled Dynamics in a Systematically Coarse-Grained Polystyrene Melt

We develop a mesoscale polystyrene model based on atomistic simulations of oligomers using the iterative Boltzmann inversion method. The potential is optimized against the atomistic simulation until the radial distribution function generated from the mesoscale model is consistent with the atomistic simulation. The mesoscale model allows to elucidate the polymer dynamics of long chains. The dynamics of polystyrene melts are investigated at various chain lengths between 15 and 240 monomers. Mean-squared displacements are analyzed to capture the dynamics changing from the Rouse to the reptation behavior. The reorientation behavior of segmental vectors is investigated to identify the heterogeneity along the chain. Diffusion constants of various systems are calculated to verify the crossover from the unentangled to entangled dynamics. Rouse mode analysis shows that the Rouse model is applicable from chain length between 50 and 100 monomers. The entanglement length of this polystyrene model is around 85 monomers at 450 K, in fair agreement with experiments.
Diverse immune evasion strategies by human cytomegalovirus

Members of the Herpesviridae family have the capacity to undergo both lytic and latent infection to establish a lifelong relationship with their host. Following primary infection, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) can persist as a subclinical, recurrent infection for the lifetime of an individual. This quiescent portion of its life cycle is termed latency and is associated with periodic bouts of reactivation during times of immunosuppression, inflammation, or stress. In order to exist indefinitely and establish infection, HCMV encodes a multitude of immune modulatory mechanisms devoted to escaping the host antiviral response. HCMV has become a paradigm for studies of viral immune evasion of antigen presentation by both major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II molecules. By restricting the presentation of viral antigens during both productive and latent infection, HCMV limits elimination by the human immune system. This review will focus on understanding how the virus manipulates the pathways of antigen presentation in order to modulate the host response to infection.
Validity of Self‐Reported Measures for Surveillance of Periodontal Disease in Two Western New York Population‐Based Studies

Background: Public health and other population-based studies often depend on participants' self-reported disease status to assess prevalence, incidence, and disease trends. We sought to assess the feasibility of self-reported periodontal disease measures using dental history questions combined with demographic and medical history to predict periodontal disease. Methods: We evaluated results from two separate population-based studies carried out at the University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, i.e., the “Periodontal Infection and Risk for Myocardial Infarction Study,” a study of 1,578 adults assessing the association between periodontal disease and myocardial infarction and the “Periodontal Disease Research Center” (the Erie County Study), an epidemiologic risk assessment study of 1,438 adults. In each study, an extensive list of oral health questions was asked, and a comprehensive medical history, blood analysis using chemistry and hematology tests, and demographic data were collected. Results: Using a predefined measure of severity of periodontal disease, we compared patients with severe disease to all others (i.e., those with moderate and no or mild disease). We examined areas under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating curve to determine the best models, adding one, two, or three dental variables in all possible combinations. The AUC maximized at 0.76, and the combined sensitivity and specificity maximized at 142 and were comparable in both studies. Conclusions: Self-reported measures of periodontal disease are moderately predictive of clinical attachment loss. The demographic variables of age, race, smoking, gender, and diabetes mellitus accounted for much of the predictive power for self-reported periodontal disease; however, increases in sensitivity and specificity in the C statistics occurred when questions, including “Gum surgery in the past?,” “Sore gums in the past?,” “Scaling in the past?,” “Bleeding gums now?,” “Periodontal surgery in the past 2 years?,” and “Chewing satisfaction?,” were added to the model.
I'm not a doctor, but I play one on the web: Credibility, funding, and interactivity features on health organization websites

The Web has become an important resource for individuals seeking health information. Recent literature on online health information suggests that interactive features can improve the search experience and may even enhance the individual's learning experience and engagement (Boulos, Maramba, & Wheeler, 2006). Some researchers have found links between credibility and interactivity, as well as between funding and interactivity. But connections among the three features were found to be lacking. This study involved a content analysis of 60 health-related websites – 30 women's health organizations and 30 general health organizations – that were collected and analyzed in October and November 2006. A framework designed to assess levels of and relationships among credibility, funding, and interactivity was developed to determine the similarities and differences between the two types of sites. The analysis revealed that sites with lower credibility levels included more interactivity features, except when funding was not present. Because a greater number of individuals are seeking information online and the calls for higher levels of interactivity on websites continue to surface, these findings could have implications for the future of online health information resources.
Unrecognized misplacement of endotracheal tubes in a mixed urban to rural emergency medical services setting.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the rate of unrecognized endotracheal tube misplacement when performed by emergency medical services (EMS) personnel in a mixed urban and rural setting. METHODS: The authors conducted a prospective, observational analysis of out-of-hospital endotracheal intubations (EIs) performed by EMS personnel serving a mixed urban, suburban, and rural population. From July 1, 1998, to August 30, 1999, emergency physicians assessed and recorded the position of out-of-hospital EIs using auscultation, direct laryngoscopy, infrared CO(2) detectors, esophageal detector devices, and chest x-ray. The state EMS database also was reviewed to determine the number of EIs involving patients transported to the authors' medical center and paramedic assessment of success for these encounters. RESULTS: A total of 167 out-of-hospital EIs were recorded, of which 136 (81%) were deemed successful by EMS personnel. Observational forms were completed for 109 of the 136 patients who arrived intubated to the emergency department. Of the studied patients, 12% (13 of 109) were found to have misplaced endotracheal tubes. For the patients with unrecognized improperly placed tubes, 9% (10 of 109) were in the esophagus, 2% (2 of 109) were in the right main stem, and 1% (1 of 109) were above the cords. Paramedics serving urban and suburban areas did not perform significantly better (p < 0.05) than intermediate-level providers serving areas that are more rural. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of unrecognized misplacement of endotracheal tubes by EMS personnel may be higher than most previous studies, making regular EMS evaluation and the out-of-hospital use of devices to confirm placement imperative. The authors were unable to show a difference in misplacement rates based on provider experience or level of training.
Pharmacological intervention for altering lipid metabolism.

Pharmacological intervention for altering plasma levels of lipoproteins is usually aimed at reducing atherogenesis and preventing coronary heart disease (CHD). Drug therapy should be attempted only after other nonpharmacological methods (such as elimination of smoking, weight reduction and exercise) have been tried.
Localization of the Calcitonin Gene-related Peptide Receptor Complex at the Vertebrate Neuromuscular Junction and Its Role in Regulating Acetylcholinesterase Expression *

The calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is released by motor neurons where it exerts both short and long term effects on skeletal muscle fibers. In addition, sensory neurons release CGRP on the surrounding vasculature where it is in part responsible for local vasodilation following muscle contraction. Although CGRP-binding sites have been demonstrated in whole muscle tissue, the type of CGRP receptor and its associated proteins or its cellular localization within the tissue have not been described. Here we show that the CGRP-binding protein referred to as the calcitonin receptor-like receptor is highly concentrated at the avian neuromuscular junction together with its two accessory proteins, receptor activity modifying protein 1 and CGRP-receptor component protein, required for ligand specificity and signal transduction. Using tissue-cultured skeletal muscle we show that CGRP stimulates an increase in intracellular cAMP that in turn initiates down-regulation of acetylcholinesterase expression at the transcriptional level, and, more specifically, inhibits expression of the synaptically localized collagen-tailed form of the enzyme. Together, these studies suggest a specific role for CGRP released by spinal cord motoneurons in modulating synaptic transmission at the neuromuscular junction by locally inhibiting the expression of acetylcholinesterase, the enzyme responsible for terminating acetylcholine neurotransmission.
Exact solution for the resolvent matrix of a generalized tridiagonal Hamiltonian

The exact solution for the resolvent matrix of a generalized tridiagonal Hamiltonian whose elements are themselves block matrices is obtained. The capability of the method is demonstrated by applying it to study the electronic structure on the surface of semiconductors. Some interesting insights regarding the difference between the Shockley states and Tamm states are also discussed.
Designing clinical databases

Evidence-based medicine has always relied on databases. Anyone who needs to know anything about the outcome of a treatment needs a database, but individual practitioners may feel that database design is beyond them for various reasons. Effective database design does not require complexity. This article seeks to be a practical guide for those who are contemplating development of their own database.
Teaching Instructional Design: An Action Learning Approach

Many theorists and practitioners are calling for more authentically based teaching approaches in the preparation of instructional designers and performance technologists to address the complexity of the field's practice. Although many innovative methods have been incorporated into the study of instructional design and development and human performance technology, including case studies and applied experiences with collaborative groups, among others, the majority of teaching approaches are limited to the time constraints and format of the traditional university classroom setting. This paper discusses an alternative teaching approach that incorporates action learning principles along with authentic project-based methods into the full-time study of instructional design. The paper reviews action learning principles and highlights the commonalties between these principles and the application of the practice and teaching of the instructional design process in an authentic manner. Finally, the implementation of action learning principles within a graduate program in instructional technology is described. Action learning principles may be applied to many content areas; however, the highly complementary nature of this specific methodology to the teaching and practice of instructional design may have the potential to improve greatly our preparation of professionals in the complex work environments characteristic of this and related disciplines. As a valuable component of performance technology skills, training in instructional design methods based on an action learning approach may have broad implications for both the preparation of instructional designers and performance technologists.
High Mobility Field Effect Transistors Based on Macroscopically Oriented Regioregular Copolymers

Field-effect transistors fabricated from semiconducting conjugated polymers are candidates for flexible and low-cost electronic applications. Here, we demonstrate that the mobility of high molecular weight (300 kDa) regioregular, poly[4-(4,4-dihexadecyl-4H-cyclopenta[1,2-b:5,4-b′]dithiophen-2-yl)-alt-[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4-c]pyridine] can be significantly improved by introducing long-range orientation of the polymer chains. By annealing for short periods, hole mobilities of 6.7 cm2/(V s) have been demonstrated. The transport is anisotropic, with a higher mobility (approximately 6:1) parallel to the polymer backbone than that perpendicular to the polymer backbone.
IT education and training for disadvantage students: lessons from Europe

Across the European Union, education and training in information technology (IT) is seen as a way to move people experiencing disadvantage - such as the unemployed, people with disabilities, immigrants, marginalized women, and disadvantaged youth - into sustainable employment. All the EU member countries and the European Commission have invested heavily in IT education and training programs for these groups. This article discusses the study took place in five European countries, and concluded that for students experiencing disadvantage, IT training and education should be only one element of a much broader pedagogy. Successful programs in the countries studied - Ireland, the U.K., Finland, Italy, and Spain - used a pathway approach of interventions.
The psychology of social impact.

The author proposes a theory of social im- pact specifying the effect of other persons on an in- dividual. According to the theory, when other people are the source of impact and the individual is the target, impact should be a multiplicative function of the strength, immediacy, and number of other people. Fur- thermore, impact should take the form of a power func- tion, with the marginal effect of the Nth other person being less than that of the (N — l)th. Finally, when other people stand with the individual as the target of forces from outside the group, impact should be divided such that the resultant is an inverse power function of the strength, immediacy, and number of persons stand- ing together. The author reviews relevant evidence from research on conformity and imitation, stage fright and embarrassment, news interest, bystander interven- tion, tipping, inquiring for Christ, productivity in groups, and crowding in rats. He also discusses the unresolved issues and desirable characteristics of the theory.
Effect of Temperature on the Life History of the Mealybug Paracoccus marginatus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)

Effect of temperature on the life history of the mealybug Paracoccus marginatus Williams & Granara de Willink (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) was investigated in the laboratory. P. marginatus was able to develop and complete its life cycle at 18, 20, 25, and 30 ± 1°C. At 15, 34, and 35°C, the eggs hatched after 27.5, 5.9, and 5.5 d of incubation, respectively, but further development of the first-instar nymphs was arrested. No eggs hatched at 37°C. The developmental time for egg to adult was the longest at 18°C for both males and females. Approximately 80–90% of the eggs survived between 20 and 30°C. The highest fecundity was at 25°C with each female producing an average of 300 eggs. Adult longevity, and preoviposition and oviposition periods increased with decreasing temperature up to 25°C. The proportion of females was ≈42% at 25°C and was between 70 and 80% at 18, 20, and 30°C. Adult males and females required 303.0 and 294.1 degree-days (DD), respectively, to complete their development. The estimated minimum temperature thresholds for the adult males and females were 14.5 and 13.9°C, respectively. For adult males, the estimated optimum and maximum temperature thresholds were 28.7 and 31.9°C; and for adult females, they were 28.4 and 32.1°C, respectively. The ability of P. marginatus to develop, survive, and reproduce successfully between 18 and 30°C suggests that it has the capability to develop and establish in areas within this temperature range.
Q+Rtree: efficient indexing for moving object databases

Moving object environments contain large numbers of queries and continuously moving objects. Traditional spatial index structures do not work well in this environment because of the need to frequently update the index which results in very poor performance. In this paper, we present a novel indexing structure, namely the Q+Rtree, based on the observation that: i) most moving objects are in quasi-static state most of time, and ii) the moving patterns of objects are strongly related to the topography of the space. The Q+Rtree is a hybrid tree structure which consists of both an R*tree and a QuadTree. The R*tree component indexes quasi-static objects ie., those that are currently moving slowly and are often crowded together in buildings or houses. The Quadtree component indexes fast moving objects which are dispersed over wider regions. We also present the experimental evaluation of our approach.
Aerodynamic Parameter Measurement Using the Wind Driven Manipulator: Inverse Force Measurement on Wings

Mm Pitching moment generated by the model Inverse force measurement using a wind-driven dynamic manipulator is explored. Using system identification techniques, the WDM offers a method of measuring forces and moments on wind tunnel models during rapid, multi-axis maneuvers. Previous work has shown the measurement of dynamic stability parameters for small disturbances using the WDM. System identification has been used to construct simulations of WDM behavior in order to match desired and actual maneuver trajectories. Here the nonlinear behavior of a pitch manipulator is measured over a range of model loads and attitudes. A look-up table constructed from these data is used to measure quasi-steady forces and moments on a rectangular wing and a delta wing. The WDM is used to hold models steady in a wind tunnel under feedback control, at various attitudes. Each model is taken through a range of attitudes, and the control input needed for equilibrium is recorded. By repeating the experiment with 3 model-mounting positions, a set of 3 simultaneous equations is generated for the lift, drag and pitching moment at each angle of attack. The technique is successful in measuring the lift of a rectangular wing and a delta wing. Measurement resolution was inadequate to resolve drag and pitching moment accurately in these tests. Methods for measuring these are discussed. Continuous force measurement from repeated maneuvers is discussed.
Rock bottom: Coherentism's soft spot

Often coherentism is taken to be the view that justification is solely a function of the coherence among a person's beliefs. I offer a counterexample to the idea that when so understood coherence is sufficient for justification. I then argue that the counterexample will still work if coherence is understood as coherence among a person's beliefs and experiences. I defend a form of nondoxastic foundationalism that takes sensations and philosophical intuitions as basic and sees nearly all other justification as depending on inference to the best explanation. I take up Wilfrid Sellars's Dilemma, which starts with the idea that the foundations must be either propositional in nature or not. The argument continues: if they are, they stand in need of justification; if they are not, they cannot confer justification. It concludes that there cannot be foundations that confer justification on other beliefs. I deny both horns of this dilemma, arguing that philosophical intuitions are propositional but do not stand in need of justification and that sensations are not propositional but can confer justification on perceptual beliefs.
Cost-effectiveness of pediatric heart transplantation.

Background Survival after pediatric heart transplantation has continued to improve. Nonetheless, graft survival is generally Methods Data from 95 pediatric subjects undergoing transplantation at our institution from 1997 through 2004 were reviewed to determine the costs of pediatric heart transplantation. Costs included pre-transplant care, organ procurement, initial hospitalization and follow-up care. Life expectancy was derived from the United Network of Organ Sharing data set. Data were reported as cost per quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) gained, which were discounted at 3%. Cost-effectiveness was stratified by primary transplantation vs re-transplantation. Results The mean cost of initial hospitalization and organ procurement was $221,897 per patient for primary transplant and $285,296 per patient for re-transplant. Annual follow-up costs were estimated to be $18,141 in the first year (excluding the first 90 days post-transplant) and $18,480 per year thereafter. Under base-case assumptions, costs per QALY gained were $49,679 for primary transplantation and $87,883 for re-transplantation. Sensitivity analysis yielded a cost–utility range of $44,943 to $57,628 per QALY gained for primary transplantation and $70,834 to $103,661 per QALY gained for re-transplantation. Conclusions Costs of primary pediatric heart transplantation are within the accepted range of cost effectiveness. Pediatric heart re-transplantation has higher costs relative to benefits gained owing to shorter graft survival.
Influence of the Estrous Cycle on the Presence and Distribution of Immune Cells in the Rat Reproductive Tract

PROBLEM: Previous studies have shown that the uterus and vagina contain cells that can present antigen to ovalbumin-specific T-cells. The objective of the present study was to systematically characterize the immune cells [major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class-II+, macrophages, granulocytes, dendritic cells, and CD8+ cells] present in the uterus and vagina of the rat and to examine their distribution at various stages of the estrous cycle. METHOD OF STUDY: Uterine and vaginal tissues from female rats were selected at various stages of the estrous cycle and were examined by immunohistochemical analysis. MHC class-II (Ia)-positive cells were detected using the OX-6 monoclonal antibody; macrophages, granulocytes, and dendritic cells were detected by OX-41 monoclonal antibody and CD8-positive T-cells were identified by OX-8 monoclonal antibody. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical analysis showed cycle-dependent changes in the immune cell populations in the uterus and vagina. Ia+ cells, macrophages, granulocytes, and dendritic cells were present in large numbers in the stroma of the endometrium and around the glandular epithelium in the uterus at estrus, the stage of the reproductive cycle when estradiol levels are known to be high, relative to those seen at diestrus, when estrogen levels are low and progesterone is the predominant hormone. CD8+ cells were observed in the uterus interspersed between glandular epithelial cells at estrus. Immune cells were more numerous in the vagina, relative to the uterus. OX-6- and OX-41-positive cells were present in greater numbers in the subepithelial layers of the vagina at diestrus, in contrast to estrus. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that a variety of immune cells are present in the reproductive tract and that their number and distribution vary in a tissue-specific manner with the stage of the estrous cycle.
Influence of stratospheric turbulence on infrared imaging

We introduce a model for the power spectrum of stratospheric turbulence that is based on data from in situ measurements and on results of the theory of saturated internal gravity waves. We then study the effect of that stratospheric turbulence has on the scintillation, the coherence of starlight, and on the degradation of star image. It is shown that because the stratospheric phase structure function is approximately quadratic over distance comparable with the aperture of a large telescope, stratospheric turbulence does not significantly degrade short-exposure images of star but does degrade long-exposure ones. The influence of stratosphere on star image degradation is more important in the IR than in the visible range because of the specific dependence of the stratospheric coherence radius on the light wavelength. Star image motion and blurring are determined by different characteristics of the atmosphere and cannot be explained solely on the basis of Kolmogorov model. The modified astronomical imaging theory predicts greater improvement in resolution due to tilt removal than a conventional theory.
Manufactured Housing Production Layout Design

This paper presents exploratory research work in facility layout design of a manufactured housing production plant. Manufactured homes are built in a factory on an assembly line that consists of activity stations, subactivity stations, feeder stations, and storage areas. This research developed systematic process steps for the layout design of manufactured housing production plants with a qualitative approach. The qualitative approach takes into account space requirements and proximity parameters. For this purpose, the tools and techniques available in industrial and manufacturing engineering were investigated. Data related to the space and proximity requirements in the two case study production plants were collected, and alternative layouts were developed. These layouts were analyzed to suggest the best possible layout. Finally, layout design steps for the qualitative analysis of the facility design were presented in the form of a process flowchart.
The Roles of Perceived Identity Compatibility and Social Support for Women in a Single-Sex STEM Program at a Co-educational University

Single-sex programs have been implemented in a variety of educational settings to help promote greater engagement of women in STEM fields. However, the mechanisms through which single-sex programs increase women’s engagement in STEM fields are unclear. Drawing from research in social and health psychology, we examined two theoretically-guided predictors of women’s sense of belonging in their STEM majors and belonging at the university: perceived identity compatibility between being a woman and being in a STEM field, and perceived social support. Participants were 65 racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse women enrolled in a single-sex STEM program at a co-educational university in Northeastern United States. Participants completed online surveys before the start of their first year of college, and again at the beginning of their second year of college. Findings from multiple regression analyses support hypotheses that across STEM women’s first or transitional year of college, perceived identity compatibility, perceived support from close others, and perceived support from the single-sex program for STEM women were each independently associated with greater sense of belonging in their major. Additionally, perceived identity compatibility and perceived support from the single-sex program were associated with greater sense of belonging at the university. These findings suggest that perceived support from sources such as single-sex programs and perceived compatibility between one’s field and being female may sustain women pursuing training in nontraditional fields such as STEM. Continued investigation of these factors may elucidate the impact of single-sex programs and inform interventions to increase the retention of women in STEM.
Critical challenges confronting certification of evaluators

Abstract There are many clear-cut reasons why it would be desirable to have a certification process for evaluators, both to help improve the practice of evaluation and to further the field’s maturation into a full-fledged profession. But there are also many strong arguments against attempting to launch an evaluator certification system, at least at this time. The arguments for and against AEA attempting to set up an evaluator certification system are discussed, including two contextual changes that have led to a significant shift in my thinking on this topic over the last three decades. Also presented are four major challenges that would need to be overcome in any effort to develop a viable evaluator certification system. In light of these challenges, I argue that the development and implementation of a certification process can succeed only if pursued patiently and incrementally, with adequate time for AEA to test the feasibility of each of the definitional and procedural processes that would need to undergird such a system. Finally, an agenda of steps is suggested that AEA might take to determine if our field and our collective wisdom have matured sufficiently for us to succeed in such an important undertaking.
Federal Rule of Evidence 408 and Criminal Cases

This article examines United States v. Davis, 596 F.3d 852 (D.C. Cir. 2010) to illustrate the kind of protection Federal Rule of Evidence 408 can afford a criminal defendant who seeks to exclude evidence of an offer to settle what appears to be a civil dispute.