cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A modesty proposal

Accuracy-first epistemology aims to show that the norms of epistemic rationality can be derived from the effective pursuit of accuracy. This paper explores the prospects within accuracy-first epistemology for vindicating “modesty”: the thesis that ideal rationality permits uncertainty about one’s own rationality. I argue that accuracy-first epistemology faces serious challenges in accommodating three forms of modesty: uncertainty about what priors are rational, uncertainty about whether one’s update policy is rational, and uncertainty about what one’s evidence is. I argue that the problem stems from the representation of epistemic decision problems. The appropriate representation of decision problems, and corresponding decision rules, for (diachronic) update policies should be a generalization of decision problems and decision rules for (synchronic) coherence. I argue that extant accounts build in conflicting assumptions about which kinds of information about the believer should be used to structure epistemic decision problems. In particular, extant accounts of update build in a form of epistemic consequentialism. Related forms of epistemic consequentialism have been shown to generate problems for accuracy-first epistemology’s purported justifications of probabilism, conditionalization, and the principal principle. These results are vindicated only with nonconsequentialist epistemic decision theories. I close with suggestive examples of how, with a fully nonconsequentialist representation of epistemic decision problems, accuracy-first epistemology can allow for rational modesty.
Safety and Feasibility of Performing Pericardiocentesis on Patients with Significant Pulmonary Hypertension

Abstract Background/purpose Pericardial effusion (PE) is a complication of pulmonary hypertension (PHT) and, specifically, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), that confers a worse prognosis. The safety of performing pericardiocentesis in patients with PHT has not been established. We aimed to assess the safety and feasibility of performing pericardiocentesis in patients with significant PHT. Methods/materials We performed a retrospective analysis from August 2013 to December 2018 at our tertiary-care center of patients who underwent a pericardiocentesis procedure. Patients, procedure, echocardiographic findings, any major intraprocedural complications, and post-procedural related complications up to 30 days were recorded. Specifically, we studied patients with significant PHT. Results The cohort included 170 patients, with an average age of 62.6 years and an even distribution of gender and co-morbidities. The etiology for the PE varied. Major complications were rare (1.7%) and only 10 patients (5.9%) required re-intervention for reaccumulation of fluid. There were 27 patients (15.9%) with significant PHT, 5 with World Health Organization (WHO) Group I PAH (2.94%). In the entire cohort, there were only 3 major complications (1.7%), none among PHT patients. Conclusions Pericardiocentesis is a safe procedure, including in patients with significant PHT, including those with WHO Group I PAH. We advocate the use of invasive hemodynamic monitoring in patients with significant PHT. Summary Pericardiocentesis tends to be a safe procedure. However, the safety of performing pericardiocentesis in patients with significant pulmonary hypertension has not been well established. We aimed to assess the safety and feasibility of performing pericardiocentesis, and specifically in patients with significant PHT out our tertiary center by performing a retrospective analysis.
7T bone perfusion imaging of the knee using arterial spin labeling MRI.

Purpose To evaluate the feasibility of arterial spin labeling (ASL) imaging of epiphyseal bone marrow in the distal femoral condyle of the knee at 7T MRI. Methods The knees of 7 healthy volunteers were imaged with ASL using a 7T whole body MRI scanner and a 28-channel knee coil. ASL imaging used a flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery method for labeling and a single-shot fast spin echo sequence for image readout. ASL imaging with a single oblique transverse slice was performed at 2 slice positions in the distal femoral condyle. Blood flow was measured in 2 regions of interest: the epiphyseal bone marrow and the overlying patellofemoral cartilage. To analyze perfusion SNR, 200 noise images were also acquired using the same ASL imaging protocol with RF pulses turned off. Results Knee bone marrow perfusion imaging was successfully performed with all volunteers. The overall mean of blood flow in the knee bone marrow was 32.90 ± 2.41 mL/100 g/min, and the blood flow was higher at the more distal slice position. We observed significant B0 and B 1 + inhomogeneities, which need to be addressed in the future to improve the quality of ASL imaging and increase the reliability of knee bone marrow perfusion measurements. Conclusion Bone marrow perfusion imaging of the distal femoral condyle is feasible using ASL at 7T. Further technical development is needed to improve the ASL method to overcome existing challenges.
How Much Does Bad Hay Cost a Beef Cattle Producer

Everyone likes a good bargain, but when it comes to hay, low price often equates to low nutritional value. Because hay is often sold on a large round-bale basis, savings from the good bargain can decrease substantially if there is a negative impact on the cow herd nutritional program. This 4-page fact sheet discusses intake limitations, energy limitations, protein limitations, examples of hay quality, and bad hay’s impact on cow body condition. Written by Matt Hersom and Todd Thrift, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Animal Sciences, February 2018. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an339
A clinical analysis on 13 full-term newborns with acute respiratory distress syndrome

Objective To investigate the risk factors and prevention of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in full-term infants.Methods The high-risk factors,chest X-ray manifestations,and treatment process were retrospectively analyzed in 13 full-term newborns diagnosed as neonatal acute respiratory distress syndrome.Results After administration with mechanical ventilation,12 newborns were successfully saved.The remaining one complicated by severe persistent pulmonary hypertension of newborn was dead because of abandoning treatment.Conclusions Prevention should be taken first in fullterm newborns with acute respiratory distress syndrome.We should strictly follow the indications of Cesarean section,grasp correct cardiopulmonary resuscitation of neonatal asphyxia,and avoid neonatal asphyxia.Only early diagnosis and treatment can reduce the mortality rate and improve the cure rate. Key words: Acute respiratory distress syndrome; Full-term; Newborns; Clinical analysis
Fully Hardware based Robust Self-Diagnostics of Analog Comparator for Safety Critical Applications

Functional safety is critical in automotive and many industrial applications. The analog comparator module in microcontrollers is often used in many of these applications that demand compliance to safety requirements. There are different methods available for ensuring the safety compliance of the analog comparator module like applying known inputs and checking for expected result in software from time to time or active diagnostic methods using a second redundant comparator module etc. The hardware redundancy scheme involves higher cost and the software methods lead to disruption of the execution flow, higher power consumption and also complexity in performing the diagnostics. This paper describes a fully hardware based robust self-diagnostics method for the analog comparator module that involves insignificant cost, power overhead and also achieves ease of use from software perspective. It details the boot time and run time diagnostic options based on user inputs, hardware based self-diagnostics scheme and different comprehensive diagnostic sequences to validate the safety compliance of the analog comparator module in a microcontroller.
Communicating the “Write” Values: Developing Methods of Computer-Aided Text Analysis for Instructor Training

Computer-aided text analysis has been increasingly recognized as a valuable tool in professional and technical communications (PTC) pedagogy. This research paper explores how such methods can be extended to the less-frequently addressed area of instructor training. It will primarily discuss the development of a methodological pipeline that uses the computational rhetorical analysis platform DocuScope to foster writing instructors’ rhetorical awareness of the genres they teach and evaluate, and then propose the value of this pipeline specifically within PTC instructor training settings. While this paper mainly addresses pedagogical applications, the developed methodology also has implications for the workplace, as it can be modified for industry tutorials or training modules.
Development of a Patient-Specific p.D85N-Potassium Voltage-Gated Channel Subfamily E Member 1-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocyte Model for Drug-Induced Long QT Syndrome.

Background: Prior epidemiological studies demonstrated that the p.D85N-Potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily E member 1 (KCNE1) common variant reduces repolarization reserve and predisposes to ...
Opportunities for diabetes and peripheral artery disease-related lower limb amputation prevention in an Appalachian state: A longitudinal analysis.

Abstract Lower extremity amputation due to peripheral artery disease (PAD) and diabetes (DM) is a life-altering event that identifies disparities in access to healthcare and management of disease. West Virginia (WV), a highly rural state, is an ideal location to study these disparities. The WVU longitudinal health system database was used to identify 1) risk factors for amputation, 2) how disease management affects the risk of amputation, and 3) whether the event of amputation is associated with a change in HbA1c and LDL levels. Adults (≥18 years) with diagnoses of DM and/or PAD between 2011 and 2016 were analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed on patients with lab information for both HbA1c and LDL while adjusting for patient factors to examine associations with amputations. In patients who underwent amputation, we compared laboratory values before and after using Wilcoxon signed rank tests. 50,276 patients were evaluated, 369 (7.3/1000) underwent amputation. On multivariable analyses, Male sex and Self-pay insurance had higher odds for amputation. Compared to patients with DM alone, PAD patients had 12.3 times higher odds of amputation, while patients with DM and PAD had 51.8 times higher odds of amputation compared to DM alone. We found significant associations between odds of amputation and HbA1c (OR 1.31,CI = 1.15–1.48), but not LDL. Following amputation, we identified significant decreases in lab values for HbA1c and LDL. These findings highlight the importance of medical optimization and patient education and suggest that an amputation event may provide an important opportunity for changes in disease management and patient behavior.
Patient reported outcomes in women with type I and type II uterine cancer: a pragmatic prospective study

Objectives: The objective of this pragmatic study was to describe patient reported outcomes (PROs) in a routine clinic population with Type I and Type II uterine cancers over the course of their disease management. Methods: PROs were collected prospectively at a tertiary care gynecologic oncology center beginning in 2018 using validated tools (PROMIS, EORTC EN-24, and EORTC QLQ-C30). Responses were compared using Chi-square, independent T-tests, and binary logistic regressions (controlling for Type I vs. II cancer, insurance, stage, age, time since diagnosis, recurrence, and race). Download : Download high-res image (124KB) Download : Download full-size image Results: There were 247 women with uterine cancer included, 216 of whom responded to the PROs (87.4% response rate). Responders were not significantly different from non-responders apart from being slightly younger (mean age 64.9 vs. 68.9; p=0.049). Baseline characteristics differed for women with Type II uterine cancer compared to Type I in expected ways (higher stage, older age, higher recurrence rate, higher rates of adjuvant therapy). Women with Type II cancers were significantly burdened by their disease, reporting higher rates of social (22.4% vs. 8.2%; p=0.002) and family life (12.1% vs. 3.2%; p=0.008) interference and higher rates of adverse outcomes on the QLQ-C30 instrument (Figure). On adjusted analyses, women with Type II uterine cancer reported higher rates of suffering, specifically citing trouble taking short walks outside the house (aOR 27.43, 95% CI 3.16-237.90; p=0.003), feeling limited in their work/daily activities (aOR 4.04, 95% CI 1.48-11.02; p=0.006), being limited in pursuing their hobbies (aOR 3.79, 95% CI 1.31-10.99; p=0.014), and feeling irritable (aOR 4.37, 95% CI 1.11-17.30; p=0.036) after controlling for recurrence, stage, and other confounders. Publicly insured women were less likely to have someone to help if they were bedbound (aOR 2.48, 95% CI 1.05-5.85; p=0.038) and reported overall poorer quality of life (aOR 8.74, 95% CI 2.81-27.18; p Conclusions: Uterine cancer patients with Type II cancers and public insurance suffer more during their treatment and survivorship. These data are important because by understanding what types of adverse outcomes different women experience, gynecologic oncologists can more effectively alleviate suffering for the patients they care for.
Single incision laparoscopic lysis of adhesions

Abstract Background Minimally invasive approaches to surgery following open procedure are not often utilized due to known challenges of intra-operative visualization secondary to post-operative adhesions. In this case report we describe an innovative approach to the management of abdominal and thoracic post-operative adhesions via a single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) technique. Case Reports Patient #1 is a 3-year-old boy with history of hepatoblastoma with pulmonary metastases status post serial thoracotomies who presented for resection of an enlarging chest wall nodule and small left upper lobe lesion. Patient #2 is a 21-year-old male with history of cerebral palsy, necrotizing enterocolitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, with multiple prior abdominal surgeries presenting with symptomatic cholelithiasis. Results A single incision laparoscope with insertion of various instruments through the working port was successfully utilized to aid in adhesiolysis. Patient #1 had successful resection of his thoracic lesions without requiring repeat thoracotomy. Patient #2 had partial success in lysis of adhesions but requiring conversion to open due to inadequate visualization of the gallbladder anatomy. Conclusion The single incision laparoscopic surgical technique is a novel and valuable minimally invasive tool for lysis of adhesions in recurrent surgical procedures. There remains a low threshold to convert open for completion of the surgical procedure when there is inadequate anatomic visualization.
An Evaluation of Measured Pressure Signatures from Wind-Tunnel Models of Three Low-Boom Concepts

Revised 1990-1991 sonic-boom design and analysis methodology was assessed by applying it to the design of three low-boom concepts. Models of these concepts were built and used to measure pressure signatures in the wind tunnel. An analysis of wind-tunnel data showed unexpected nacelle-inlet and the nacelle-wing interference-lift shocks in the pressure signatures from the two engine-under-the-wing models, but not in the measured pressure signatures from the wind-tunnel model with the engine nacelles mounted on the aft fuselage. However, additional lift-induced shocks were found in the pressure signature data from all three wind-tunnel models indicating that other flow-field disturbance effects were present.
Assuring reliability program effectiveness.

An attempt is made to provide simple identification and description of techniques that have proved to be most useful either in developing a new product or in improving reliability of an established product. The first reliability task is obtaining and organizing parts failure rate data. Other tasks are parts screening, tabulation of general failure rates, preventive maintenance, prediction of new product reliability, and statistical demonstration of achieved reliability. Five principal tasks for improving reliability involve the physics of failure research, derating of internal stresses, control of external stresses, functional redundancy, and failure effects control. A final task is the training and motivation of reliability specialist engineers.
Equitable Treatment of Shareholders

The OECD has published a number of studies on corporate governance. In one study (OECD, 2004) it outlined a series of benchmarks intended for use by investors, policy makers, corporations, and other stakeholders. Corporations that follow the guidelines provided in this document will have a strong corporate governance system. The World Bank has conducted a number of studies on corporate governance practices in more than 40 countries, using these OECD guidelines as a template. More than 20 of those studies were of developing economies. The World Bank studies examined the corporate governance practices identified by the OECD and classified them into the following five categories:
Gene Clustering in Eukaryotes

Genes are not always organized at random within eukaryotic chromosomes. Multiple mechanisms can lead to the proximity of genes whose products have related functions. Keywords: gene clustering; gene duplication; operons; polycistronic messages; trans-splicing
Differential complexes and numerical stability

Dierential complexes such as the de Rham complex have recently come to play an important role in the design and analysis of numerical methods for partial dierential equations. The design of stable discretizations of systems of partial dierential equations often hinges on capturing subtle aspects of the structure of the system in the discretization. In many cases the dieren- tial geometric structure captured by a dierential complex has proven to be a key element, and a discrete dierential complex which is appropriately related to the original complex is essential. This new geometric viewpoint has pro- vided a unifying understanding of a variety of innovative numerical methods developed over recent decades and pointed the way to stable discretizations of problems for which none were previously known, and it appears likely to play an important role in attacking some currently intractable problems in numerical PDE.
Induction of HSP70 promotes ΔF508 CFTR trafficking

The ΔF508 cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a temperature-sensitive trafficking mutant that is detected as an immature 160-kDa form (band B) in gel electrophoresis. The ...
De novo synthesis of a sunscreen compound in vertebrates

Sunlight is the Earth's primary energy source and is exploited by an array of natural and man-made processes. Photosynthetic plants harness solar energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into biomass, and solar panels capture light and convert it to electricity. Sunlight is critical to life on Earth, and yet excessive exposure to sunlight can cause serious harm as it contains ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which damages the DNA of cells. In humans, this damage can lead to conditions such as cataracts and skin cancer. The marine organisms and animals that live in the upper ocean and on reefs are subject to intense and unrelenting sunlight. In their effort to protect against potentially deadly UV radiation, many small and particularly vulnerable marine organisms, such as bacteria and algae, produce UV-protective sunscreens. While UV-protective compounds have also been found in larger organisms, including fish and their eggs, the presence of these sunscreens has always been attributed to the animal sequestering the compounds from their environment or partnering with a sunscreen-producing microorganism. Now, Osborn, Almabruk, Holzwarth et al. have discovered a fish that is able to produce such a UV-protective compound completely on its own. After identifying the full set of genes—or pathway—responsible for generating the UV-protective compound, the same pathway was detected in a variety of diverse animals, including amphibians, reptiles, and birds. This opens up a new area of study, because besides providing UV protection, no one yet knows what other roles the molecule may have in these animals. Furthermore, introducing the complete pathway into yeast enabled these cells to produce the sunscreen. In the future, engineering a yeast population to produce large quantities of the natural sunscreen could lead to large-scale production of the UV-protective compound so it can be used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
Who Moves the Asia-Pacific Stock Markets—US or Japan? Empirical Evidence Based on the Theory of Cointegration

This study examines the recent debacle of the Asian-Pacific stock markets by utilizing the theory of cointegration to investigate which developing markets are moved by the markets of Japan and the United States. The empirical evidence suggests that some countries are dominated by the US, some are dominated by Japan, and the remaining countries are dominated by neither during the time period investigated. The appropriate error correction model is estimated and is used to perform out-of-sample forecasting.
Novel Approaches to Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Adult ADHD

Abstract While in the past two decades attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been recognized as a disorder that persists into adulthood in most cases, the development of empirically supported therapies for affected individuals beyond childhood has lagged considerably. Cognitive-behavioral therapy and related approaches, however, lead the developing literature in this area, at least with regard to psychosocial interventions. The articles in the current special series expand upon this existing work by demonstrating how treatment can (a) be extended to adolescent and college student groups, (b) incorporate a romantic couples approach, (c) productively add mindfulness as an active therapy component, and (d) engage clients in identifying and adaptively weighing overly optimistic thoughts that may be all too common for those with ADHD. Each article provides a theoretical and research review along with descriptions of interventions and case examples, maximizing the utility for clinicians and researchers alike.
A shallow seismic-profiling survey of the northern Bering Sea

Abstract During the summer of 1967 shallow continuous seismic-profiling records were obtained along 3,900 km of track in the northern Bering Sea. Reflections were recorded from five different horizons. The deepest reflector probably represents pre-Tertiary volcanic, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks and some Tertiary volcanic rocks. It is overlain by a thick sequence of sediments represented by parallel reflectors. These deposits have undergone faulting and gentle folding. In the western half of the northern Bering Sea their upper surface has been subaerially eroded, whereas in the eastern half it has not. In the subaerially eroded region near the Siberian coast there are indications of buried glacial deposits. Overlying the parallel reflectors near the Yukon delta is an extensive Yukon River deposit of presumed Late Quaternary age. The present sea floor contains features suggesting both erosional and constructional remains of former sea level stillstands.
The Role of Simulation in Computing

Three points about the role of simulation in computing are discussed. The first point is a prediction about the present trend in the computer industry and the requirements of this trend line. The second point concems where the computer industry stands on this trend line with respect to these requirements. The third indicates the path to follow to keep abreast of the trend line. Simulation of a computer system is defined as a model to evaluate performance of a total computer system operating in the user's environment. Few computer systems today provide any information on how they are operating. Parameters are needed. This leads to the prediction that computer systems will evolve to become self-monitoring and self-adjusting. In certain areas, computers are now beginning to study themselves as well as other applications. The IBM Corporation has developed CSS/360 which provides one set of basic models that the user can combine to suit his own configuration. Knowledge gained in the Gemini program provided several areas of technical fallout that revised prior concepts of simulation. The problem for the future is to keep pace with the evergrowing requirements and to make the systems more user oriented, while developing improved calibration techniques. Self-monitoring systems must provide data on both hardware and control program portions of computer systems while performing various applications.
Expectations, Rivalries, and Civil War Duration

What role have states involved in a rivalry with another state played in shaping the dynamics of their rival's civil wars? How can the existence of an interstate rival affect rebel calculations whether to continue fighting or stop the violence and negotiate? And to what extent does rival intervention differ in its impact on civil war duration from interventions by other actors? This paper argues that the existence of an interstate rival can prolong conflict even when actual aid has not been granted. The mere expectation of assistance from a rival, whether in the form of military intervention or provision of funds, can deter rebels from seeking settlement and motivate fighting at least for some time until resources are depleted. We estimate conditions under which interstate rivals are most likely to intervene in civil wars. We then argue that conditions conducive to rival intervention serve as a base upon which rebels form their expectations of forthcoming aid. We use predicted probabilities from the probi...
Light photon equalization for laser film digitizers

A new technique to digitize X-ray radiographs was investigated. This technique is based on the principle of light photon equalization (LPE). In this method, the light source is modulated so that the dynamic range of the transmitted light into a photo-detector is precisely controlled to obtain improved signal-to-noise ratio. The modulation of the light source is derived from a smoothed image of the original. The final output digital image is reconstructed by multiplying the modulation function and the resultant LPE image. The LPE was implemented in a laser film digitizer as a prototype. The results show that, although the dynamic range of X-ray films is about 104:1, the range of the transmission light into a photo detector was reduced to 102:1 with this technique. Also the SNR improved by maximum factor of five in the lung area of a digitized chest radiograph.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Foundations of finite precision arithmetic

Completeness and uniqueness properties for the representation of the base 㬲 digital numbers by finite length radix polynomials with various digit sets are studied. The digit sets guaranteeing completeness and uniqueness are characterized. A digital conversion algorithm is introduced for determining a base β radix polynomial with digits from a specified set D having a particular value whenever such a radix polynomial exists. The notion of precision of a radix polynomial is formalized, and the determination of the precision from the given base β, digit set D, and real value a of the radix polynomial is investigated.
Wiretapping the Internet

This paper describes the Advanced Packet Vault, a technology for creating such a record by collecting and securely storing all packets observed on a network, with a scalable architecture intended to support network speeds in excess of 100 Mbps. Encryption is used to preserve users' security and privacy, permitting selected traffic to be made available without revealing other traffic. The Vault implementation, based on Linux and OpenBSD, is open-source.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Certifying information flow properties of programs: an axiomatic approach

Interesting program properties other than functional correctness can be addressed and proved using axiomatic logic. An information flow logic that defines the flow semantics of a parallel programming language is presented. Proofs in this logic can be used to certify programs with respect to information security policies. The flow logic can also be combined with correctness logics to form an even more powerful deductive system.
Collard landraces are novel sources of glucoraphanin and other aliphatic glucosinolates

The glucosinolate make-up of the edible parts of some Brassica oleracea L. crops has been investigated previously, but the leafy-green collard (B. oleracea var. viridis) remains relatively unstudied on this topic. Due to this lack of information, a collection of US landraces was examined for glucosinolate content of leaves. The specific objectives of this examination were to compare levels of certain glucosinolates among the conserved collard landraces, identify any individuals with a distinct glucosinolate profile and determine the potential of collard as a target for chemoprotective-based plant breeding. During winter 2010/2011, 81 collard landraces, four other viridis and four collard cultivars were evaluated in the field and harvested leaves were assayed for glucosinolates. In a subsequent study, 19 selected landraces plus the cultivars were included in a repeat trial in 2012/2013. Eighteen collard landraces contained relatively high levels of glucoraphanin in leaves in both years, and three (designated G 32575, G 32580, G 32586 in the US National Plant Germplasm System) were found to contain glucoraphanin in excess of 9.5 μmol/g DM. The examined landraces are rich sources of important aliphatic glucosinolates, previously thought to be most abundant in other B. oleracea vegetables.
Gender-Equitable Attitudes, Bystander Behavior, and Recent Abuse Perpetration Against Heterosexual Dating Partners of Male High School Athletes

Objectives. We assessed the relationship between gender attitudes, identified as a critical component of violence prevention, and abuse toward dating partners among adolescent male athletes.Methods. Our sample comprised 1699 athletes from 16 high schools in northern California who were surveyed between December 2009 and October 2010 in the larger Coaching Boys Into Men trial. We used logistic regression to assess the association between gender-equitable attitudes, bystander behavior, and recent abuse incidents.Results. Athletes with more gender-equitable attitudes and greater intention to intervene were less likely (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.36; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.28, 0.46; and AOR = 0.60; 95% CI = 0.48, 0.75, respectively) and athletes who engaged in negative bystander behavior were more likely (AOR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.10, 1.35) to perpetrate abuse against their female dating partners.Conclusions. Despite the shift among bystander intervention programs toward gender neutrality, our findi...
Characterization of a Plate Specimen From Phase I of the NRC/EPRI Weld Residual Stress Program

Time-of-flight neutron diffraction and contour method residual stress measurements were conducted at Los Alamos National Lab (LANL) on a lab sized plate specimen (P4) from Phase I of the joint U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Electric Power Research Institute Weld Residual Stress (NRC/EPRI WRS) program. The specimen was fabricated from a 304L stainless steel plate containing a seven pass Alloy 82 groove weld, restrained during welding and removed from the restraint for residual stress characterization. This paper presents neutron diffraction and contour method results, and compares these experimental stress measurements to a WRS Finite Element (FE) model. Finally details are provided on the procedure used to calculate the residual stress distribution in the restrained or as welded condition in order to allow comparison to other residual stress data collected as part of the EPRI lead Phase I WRS program.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Electronic Commerce and the State Sales Tax System: An Issue of Tax Fairness

This article examines the relationship between electronic commerce and the U.S. state sales and use tax system. A framework of a high-quality tax system is used in this study, and it is applied to taxing electronic commerce sales. The first part of this article analyzes nine principles of an effective tax system and divides these principles into the categories of adequacy of revenue, fairness of revenue, and management of revenue. In the second part of this article, these principles are tested to determine what impact electronic commerce taxation has on an effective revenue system. The results of these initial tests suggest that taxation of electronic commerce was associated with fairness in the tax system. In particular, the results suggested that states that had fairer tax systems were more likely to rely less on a sales tax and more on taxing Internet access. Management and adequacy of the revenue systems of states were not found to have a significant bearing on taxing electronic commerce. These results reinforce the existing public finance and legal theories that argue that the sales tax is not a fair revenue stream and that it should be reevaluated, especially in light of the contentious issue of taxing electronic commerce.
Applications of advanced electron microscopy techniques to the studies of radiation effects in ceramic materials

Abstract This paper summarizes some recent results from the application of several advanced transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques to the studies of radiation effects in insulators with the main focus on radiation-induced amorphization. These techniques include in situ TEM during ion-beam irradiation at cryogenic and elevated temperatures, cross-sectional TEM, high-resolution TEM, and image simulation on partially damaged materials, as well as digital TEM with image processing and analysis. The combination of these techniques may often provide very detailed information about the microstructure evolution during energetic particle irradiation, especially at the early stages, which is unobtainable with any other analytical methods. These techniques have been successfully applied to the analysis of a large group of ion-beam-irradiated ceramics, including quartz, silicon carbides, uranium oxide, apatite, spinel and other complex mineral phases. The advantages and limitations of each technique, as well as some important technical details for the analysis of radiation damage in ceramics are presented.
Abilities and interests of Japanese-American high school seniors.

(1947). Abilities and interests of Japanese-American high school seniors. The Journal of Social Psychology: Vol. 25, No. 1, pp. 53-61.
Measuring the industrial performance of Chinese cities by data envelopment analysis

Abstract The concept of allocative efficiency (AE) is discussed from the perspective of urban planning in China. The AE measurement is analytically achieved by data envelopment analysis/assurance region (DEA/AR) method. Using DEA/AR, this study illustrates the potential of AE to empirically measure the industrial performance of 35 selected Chinese cities. Besides the AE measurement, the current study explores the returns-to-scale (RTS) of these cities. The importance of the RTS measurement is that it does not assume uniqueness in its solution. This article thus presents an extended use of DEA in an attempt to improve the economic achievement within Chinese cities.
Rayleigh scattering measurements for obtaining spatiallyresolved absolute gas densities in large scale facilities

A systematic approach for the use of Rayleigh scattering to determine spatially resolved (along a line) gas densities is presented. Lessons learned from earlier (2003) measurements on the MARIAH II Radiatively-Driven Hypersonic Wind Tunnel (RDHWT) are incorporated into an approach which seeks to address all of the previous difficulties encountered, providing the requisite spatial resolution, suppression of scattered light, calibration and correction for laser shot-to-shot fluctuations in order to obtain data of sufficient quality to validate the predictive MARIAH II models for a 1 MW electron beam coupled into a supersonic flow. A statistical analysis is used to ascertain the necessary measurement accuracy, based on the final required accuracy for the density for its particular application. Laboratory tests are carried out on a free jet expansion using various test gases - air, helium, methane, ethylene and propane – to simulate the density variations expected in the actual experiments. The results are processed and analyzed quantitatively to verify the approach. Although developed with the above-mentioned wind tunnel in mind, the method is generally and universally applicable to any large scale facility.
Religion: More Money, More Morals

Between 500 BCE and 300 BCE, religions worldwide underwent a dramatic shift, emphasizing morality and asceticism for the first time. A new study suggests that the emergence of this new type of religion can be explained by increases in prosperity.
Direct laser pumping of adatom-surface vibrational modes

Abstract A classical model for direct-laser-induced vibrational excitation of an adatom-lattice bond is investigated in order to resolve discrepancies between previous treatments. We also give a critical discussion on the applicability of the model to real systems.
PATHOLOGIC ANALYSIS OF THE SENTINEL LYMPH NODE

The development of the sentinel lymph node concept has had a revolutionary effect on the way radical cancer surgery is viewed. The selective excision of the sentinel node alone has been proposed as an alternative to complete regional lymphadenectomy. This article addresses the sentinel lymph node hypothesis and the role of pathologic analysis, radiation safety, intraoperative and postoperative assessment, pathologic analysis in prognosis, and polymerase chain reaction-based studies.
Microbeam PIXE analysis using wavelength dispersive spectrometry

Wavelength dispersive X-ray spectrometry (WDS) offers significant advantages over energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry for PIXE analysis in some situations. Compared with energy dispersive Si(Li) detectors, the better energy resolution of WDS results in better separation of closely spaced adjacent X-ray peaks and enhanced signal to background ratios. These can result in greater accuracy in quantitative analysis, and increased sensitivity for trace element analysis. In addition, it is possible to analyze elements from beryllium upwards (Z ≥ 4). We have installed a commercial WDS detector on a nuclear microprobe system located at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Advantages and limitations of wavelength dispersive spectrometry and considerations for calibration and operation are discussed. Representative results are presented for micro-PIXE analysis.
Advances in gastrointestinal electrical stimulation

Electrical stimulation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, analogous to pacing the human heart, is an attractive idea. This is because these organs, like the heart, have their own natural pacemakers, and the electrical signals they generate can be altered by externally delivering certain types of electric currents via intraluminal or serosal electrodes to certain areas of the GI tract. A number of studies on animals have been accomplished successfully to treat a variety of disease models, including gastroparesis, dumping, and short bowel syndrome. Over the past 10 years or so, electrical stimulation of the GI tract has received increasing attention among researchers and clinicians because of new techniques, such as implantable devices, and promising results achieved in treatment of gastroparesis and morbid obesity. The objective of this article is to review the advances in electrical stimulation of the gastrointestinal tract. First the electrophysiology of the GI tract and history of GI electrical stimulation are introduced. Then various methods of electrical stimulation of the stomach and small bowel in healthy animals and models of GI diseases are reviewed. Finally clinical applications of electrical stimulation to GI disorders and their possible mechanisms are discussed.
Spanwise Wake and Discrete Jet Disturbances on a Separating Turbine Blade

Flow velocity and surface pressure measurements were made in a Pack-B low-pressure turbine linear cascade at Re c = 20, 000 and 3% inlet freestream turbulence. Under these conditions, the aft-loaded Pack-B (with a peak c P at 63% c x ) experiences laminar boundary-layer separation on the suction surface near 68% c x . A wake generator was used to simulate the periodic passing of upstream wakes through the blade passage. The wake passing frequency of 4.5 Hz was set to match a typical engine flow coefficient for a low-pressure turbine (Φ = 0.85). A spanwise row of discrete vortex-generating jets located at 59% c x were also used as a separation control device and were pulsed at a frequency of 5 Hz with a duty cycle of 25%. Data were taken using particle image velocimetry and a hot-film anemometer mounted on a blade-following device. Velocity, turbulence, and intermittency measurements were made along the suction surface of the blade to characterize the bubble dynamics and transitional behaviors for both the presence of unsteady wakes and pulsing vortex generator jets. The wakes caused early breakdown of the separated free-shear layer resulting in a thinning of the separation region. The vortex generator jets caused a near-wall disturbance that was convected downstream, temporarily pushing off the separation bubble. Overall, both wakes and vortex generator jets suppress the size of the steady-state separation bubble, though through different mechanisms. Three-dimensional aspects of the jet disturbance are also discussed.
Could Decision Trees Improve the Classification Accuracy and Interpretability of Loan Granting Decisions

The paper compares the classification performance rate of eight models: logistic regression (LR), neural network (NN), radial basis function neural network (RBFNN), support vector machine (SVM), case-base reasoning (CBR), and three decision trees (DTs). We build models and test their classification accuracy rates on a historical data set provided by a German financial institution. The data set contains 21 financial attributes of 1000 customers. Though at the time of loan application all individuals deemed to the institution to be qualified to obtain a loan, 300 of them defaulted upon a loan and 700 paid it off. To obtain reliable and unbiased error estimates for each of the eight models we apply 10-fold cross-validation and repeat an experiment 10 times. We found that in the overall classification accuracy rates at 0.5 probability cut-off, two of the three DT models significantly outperformed (at alpha=0.05) the other remaining models. We then concentrate our attention on DT models and compare their performance at 0.3 and 0.7 cut-off levels which are more likely to be used by financial institutions. The DT models not only classify better than the other models, but the knowledge they learn in the form of if-then rules is easy to interpret, makes sense, and might be of value to financial institutions which may have to explain the reasons for a loan denial.
Treatment of Primary Ovarian Angiosarcoma with Ifosfamide and Doxorubicin

Angiosarcoma originating in the female genital tract is exceedingly rare with only 15 cases of angiosarcoma of the ovary described to date. All have been highly aggressive tumors, and no response to treatment has ever been reported. A case of primary ovarian angiosarcoma is described in which a short remission was achieved with intensive chemotherapy using ifosfamide and doxorubicin.
Large scale, low temperature hotplate synthesis of germanium dioxide nanowires

Abstract A low temperature ∼350 °C, low cost germanium dioxide (GeO 2 ) nanowire (NW) synthesis process has been developed under ambient conditions. Nanowires can be grown on a number of different surfaces including silicon, quartz, Al 2 O 3 and aluminum nitride (AlN) by first coating the substrates with a thin layer of gold. The as grown NWs are tens of microns long and ∼50–200 nm in diameter and exhibit characteristics of the vapor–liquid–solid (VLS) growth mechanism.
The effect of pathotoxin from Helminthosporium maydis (race T) on energy-linked processes of corn seedlings

Abstract The effect of pathotoxin from Helminthosporium maydis on the growth, respiration, ion leakage and ATP content of intact roots was determined for susceptible ( cms -T cytoplasm) and resistant (normal cytoplasm) corn seedlings. The results were correlated with the effect of the pathotoxin on energy-linked reactions of isolated mitochondria. H. maydis pathotoxin caused a rapid, but reversible, inhibition of root growth with effects observable after only 30 min of treatment. Tissue respiration, however, was not affected in a 2 h period and changes in the rate of phosphate uptake or release by treated roots did not reveal evidence of selective inhibition over a 3 h period. A decrease in the content of cellular ATP and an increase in the rate of ion leakage (as shown by conductivity measurements of washing solutions) were observed with susceptible seedlings only at high pathotoxin concentrations. The results with intact tissues do not correlate well with the effect of the pathotoxin on isolated mitochondria, since the isolated organelles are affected immediately and irreversibly. Phosphate uptake and energy-linked volume changes by isolated mitochondria were inhibited by the pathotoxin. It is concluded that mitochondria, in situ , do not appear to be the primary site of action of the pathotoxin.
Long-term Operation of an External Cavity Quantum Cascade Laser-based Trace-gas Sensor for Building Air Monitoring

We analyze the long-term performance and stability of a trace-gas sensor based on an external cavity quantum cascade laser using data collected over a one-year period in a building air monitoring application.
Status of engineering geologic and environmental geologic mapping in the United States

1. Engineering geologic maps in the United States may be one map prepared as part of a larger study of environmental geology, individual areal geologic maps containing additional engineering geologic data, or engineering geologic maps of single construction sites. 2. No systematic methodology for engineering geologic or environmental geologic maps has been developed. 3. Environmental geology studies combine the efforts of workers in a number of geologic fields to produce many maps of basic data, as well as various interpretative maps, only one of which may be an engineering geologic or foundation conditions map. Maps of many scales may be prepared for a single study, depending upon the geologic conditions, the main problems of the area, and the principal needs. 4. New technology, including computers and various types of aerial photography, is constantly being developed, and its use is being encouraged to increase the speed and efficiency of map preparation. 5. The use of engineering geologic and environmental geologic maps in the United States is constantly growing; such maps will continue to be made in increasing numbers.