cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cellular-Level Surgery Using Nano Robots

The atomic force microscope (AFM) is a popular instrument for studying the nano world. AFM is naturally suitable for imaging living samples and measuring mechanical properties. In this article, we propose a new concept of an AFM-based nano robot that can be applied for cellular-level surgery on living samples. The nano robot has multiple functions of imaging, manipulation, characterizing mechanical properties, and tracking. In addition, the technique of tip functionalization allows the nano robot the ability for precisely delivering a drug locally. Therefore, the nano robot can be used for conducting complicated nano surgery on living samples, such as cells and bacteria. Moreover, to provide a user-friendly interface, the software in this nano robot provides a “videolized” visual feedback for monitoring the dynamic changes on the sample surface. Both the operation of nano surgery and observation of the surgery results can be simultaneously achieved. This nano robot can be easily integrated with extra modules that have the potential applications of characterizing other properties of samples such as local conductance and capacitance.
High-frequency microinductors with amorphous magnetic ground planes

For the first time, inductors were fabricated on silicon using standard silicon processing tools. The 2.75 turn device exhibits a cutoff frequency of 3.3 GHz. The study incorporated ground planes of amorphous CoTaZr below and above the inductor. CoTaZr has a resistivity of /spl sim/ 100 /spl mu//spl Omega/ /spl middot/ cm, a 4/spl pi/ M/sub s/ of 15 kG, a permeability of /spl sim/ 870 up to 1.4 GHz, and an H/sub c/ of 0.2 Oe (unpatterned film). These properties were monitored during the process and showed no signs of degradation, even after being exposed to process temperatures of 400/spl deg/C. Octagonal devices with slotted ground planes had the best frequency response with a cutoff frequency of 3.3 GHz for inductors with 0.4-/spl mu/m-thick ground planes. Maximum inductive enhancement (over air-core inductors) of 50%-60% has been measured for devices with 1 /spl mu/m of CoTaZr underneath the inductor. Similarly, two layers of 0.4-/spl mu/m CoTaZr exhibit increased inductance of 30%-40% with one ground plane and up to 150% with two ground planes.
Detection of persistent spectral holes using ultrasonic modulation

A useful zero-background method for the detection of persistent spectral holes, HUMPH (High-resolution Ultrasonic Modulation of Persistent Holes), is described and demonstrated. The method utilizes the fact that spectral holes are sensitive to strain fields and involves modulation of an ultrasonic field at kilohertz rates in order to induce a corresponding modulation in the shape of the spectral hole. The resulting time-varying sample transmission is detected with a lock-in amplifier. The technique is demonstrated for the case of photochemical holes in color centers in x-irradiated NaF and is shown to be effective for the detection of shallow strain-sensitive absorption features. A model for the process based on the interaction of the centers with uniaxial stress accounts for the observed line shapes. This method is expected to be generally applicable and quite sensitive for the following reasons: Spectral holes in photochemical and nonphotochemical systems are intrinsically strain sensitive, the technique involves modulation only of the effect under study, and the signals appear on zero background, in contrast to standard absorption and fluorescence excitation techniques.
A new high performance intelligent speed controller for induction motor based on supervisory loops

A novel high performance intelligent controller for precise speed control of Induction Motor (IM) based on supervisory loop principle is proposed. The scheme consists of online growing Radial Basis Neural Network (RBFNN) controllers working in parallel with an implicit model adaptive controller based on system supervision. The proposed intelligent supervisory loop control architecture monitors system movement and compensate for drastic changes in system parameters and model errors. The main advantage of this unique architecture based on vector control is that, it is precise, feasible and more effective especially when the IM is subjected to unknown dynamics. Simulation results are presented in order to show that, under model errors and drastic changes, the tracking errors are reduced while using the proposed hybrid control scheme at various IM operating conditions.
Demonstration of reverse Doppler effect using a left‐handed transmission line

ABSTRACT: A novel wideband crossed planar monopole antenna hav-ing the band-notched characteristic is presented. The proposed antennaconsist of a wideband crossed planar monopole and multiple U-shapedslots, producing band-notched characteristic. In order to generate theband-notched characteristic on a crossed planar monopole, we proposethat two or four U-shaped slots be required. This technique is suitablefor creating an ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna with a narrow frequencynotch or a multiband antenna. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Microwave Opt Technol Lett 48: 543–545, 2006; Published online inWiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.21403 crossed planar monopole antenna; band-notched antenna;wideband antenna 1. INTRODUCTION The planar monopole has recently been investigated as an antennawith wideband properties. This kind of antenna exhibits goodimpedance matching and high efﬁciency. However, due to thenature of planar monopole antennas, with currents conﬁned to thelower outer edges, a variation of the radiation pattern with changeof frequency is inevitable. To solve this problem, the crossedplanar monopole has recently been studied [1–3], and improvedomnidirectional radiation patterns for frequencies across a wideoperating bandwidth have been obtained.Due to collocation of the wideband system with frequencybands reserved for narrowband wireless technologies, there is aneed for the wideband device to provide ﬁltering in those bands inorder to avoid causing interference from or to narrowband devices.In [4–6], a planar monopole was shown to exhibit a single-frequency notch band while maintaining wideband performance.However, there is no solution for a crossed planar monopoleantenna with the frequency band-notched characteristic.In this paper, we explore the ability to achieve the band-notchedcharacteristicinawidebandcrossedplanarmonopole.Theability to provide this function in the antenna can signiﬁcantlyrelax the requirements imposed upon the ﬁltering electronicswithin the wireless device. Two types of the crossed planar mono-pole antenna with the band-notched feature are presented. Theproposed antennas are fabricated and studied.
1300-V 6H-SiC lateral MOSFETs with two RESURF zones

A two-zone, lateral RESURF field 6H-SiC MOSFET with breakdown voltage as high as 1300 V and specific on-resistance of 160 m/spl Omega//spl middot/cm/sup 2/ has been fabricated. These MOSFETs exhibit stable and reversible breakdown indicating avalanche breakdown in SiC that has not been reported in earlier lateral SiC MOSFETs.
Practical implementation of blind synchronization in NC-OFDM based cognitive radio networks

Spectrum Pooling has lead the cognitive radio research community to a new frontier where it is imperative to examine the architectures of wireless network protocols as well as the underlying hardware. Challenges at the physical layer (PHY) have increased the complexity of the algorithms used in processing a signal with multifarious properties. Synchronization of Non-Contiguous Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (NC-OFDM) is one such example where a clean slate algorithm and implementation is of utmost need. In this paper, we present a novel algorithm to perform NC-OFDM synchronization in the presence of an incumbent and also provide an outline for a FPGA based implementation of the proposed synchronizer. Extensive simulations under varying signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and bandwidth reveal significant improvement over existing algorithms employed for NC-OFDM synchronization in cognitive radios.
A THEORY OF LIMITED LIQUIDITY AND LARGE INVESTORS CAUSING SPIKES IN STOCK MARKET VOLATILITY AND TRADING VOLUME

We survey a theory of the economic underpinnings of the fat-tailed distributions of a number of financial variables, such as returns and trading volumes. Our theory posits that they have a common origin in the strategic trading behavior of very large financial institutions in a relatively illiquid market. We show how the fat-tailed distribution of fund sizes can indeed generate extreme returns and volumes, even in the absence of fundamental news. Moreover, we are able to replicate the individually different empirical values of the power law exponents foreachdistribution.Largeinvestorsmoderatetheirtradestoreducetheirpriceimpact;coupled with a concave price impact function, this leads to volumes being more fat-tailed than returns but less fat-tailed than fund sizes. The trades of large institutions offer a unified explanation for apparently disconnected empirical regularities that are otherwise a challenge for economic theory. (JEL: G12, G14, G23)
Gene therapy in the inner ear. Mechanisms and clinical implications.

The application of gene therapy to the inner ear is an emerging field of study. Most studies report the expression of marker genes (e.g., galactosidase) within the tissues of the cochlea. The first biologic response of an inner ear tissue (i.e., auditory neurons) to transduction by a gene therapy vector expressing a therapeutic gene (a herpes amplicon vector containing a BDNF gene) was observed in spiral explants obtained from early postnatal rat cochleae. This study was important because it demonstrated the feasibility of a gene augmentation approach to treat traumatized cochleae. Long-term expression of transduced or transfected genes in cochlear tissues have been obtained with adenovirus, adeno-associated virus, and herpes amplicon vectors. The herpes amplicon vector (i.e., HSVbdnflac) that evoked a biologic response in vitro has also been successfully used to support the survival of auditory neurons in vivo following loss of the auditory hair cells (i.e., loss of trophic factor). Gene therapy has been successfully applied to the cochlea of a laboratory animal, and future studies will define the types of vectors and therapeutic genes that will work best for the treatment of inner ear diseases in the clinic.
Coupled-Transmission-Line Directional Couplers

Formulas are presented for the design of coupled-transmission-line directional couplers that are rigorous for any value of coupling. Two basic types are treated in detail; the simplest is one-quarter wavelength long at the center of its frequency band, while the other is three-quarter wavelength long. The quarter-wavelength type can be used over an octave of frequencies with approximately consistant coupling, while the three-quarter-wavelength type can be used equally well over more than two two octaves. For example, a -3-db coupler of the first type has a variation of +-0.3 db over a 2:1 band, while the second type has the same variation over a 4.5:1 band. Theoretically both types should have infinite directivity at all frequencies. The experimental results for models of these directional couplers have been found to conform very closely to the theoretical coupling functions, while the directivity, although usually good, is limited by discontinuity effects and constructional tolerances.
Nitric oxide and C-type atrial natriuretic peptide stimulate primary aortic smooth muscle cell migration via a cGMP-dependent mechanism : Relationship to microfilament dissociation and altered cell morphology

Abstract —Migration of aortic smooth muscle cells is thought to be of essential importance in vascular restenosis, remodeling, and angiogenesis. Recent studies have shown that NO donors inhibit the migration of subcultured aortic smooth muscle cells. However, there is evidence that NO elicits opposite effects on cell proliferation in primary versus subcultured cells, indicating fundamental differences among different models of aortic smooth muscle cell cultures. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effect of NO donors on migration of primary cultures of rat aortic smooth muscle cells and to compare and contrast their response with those in subcultured cells. A second purpose was to investigate some of the underlying mechanisms associated with NO-induced effects on cell migration. We report that 2 NO donors, S -nitroso- N -acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) and 2,2-(hydroxynitrosohydrazino)bis-ethanamine, stimulated the migration of primary cells in a wounded-culture model as well as in a transwell migration model. The effect of NO donors was mimicked by 2 cGMP analogues and C-type natriuretic peptide and blocked by a specific inhibitor of guanyl cyclase, 1H-(1,2,4)oxadiazolo[4,3,-a]quinoxalin-1-one, indicating the involvement of cGMP as second messenger. Moreover, neither NO donors nor cGMP analogues altered migration of primary cultures stimulated by either FBS or angiotensin II. In contrast to its effect in primary cultures, SNAP did not alter basal or stimulated migration of subcultured cells, except at a relatively high concentration of 1 mmol/L, at which migration was inhibited. The migration-stimulatory effect of NO donors and cGMP was associated with altered cell morphology and dissociation of actin filaments, consistent with recent studies indicating that cell morphology and cytoskeletal organization influence cell migration. The results suggest the possible involvement of NO-induced cell migration in vascular injury or remodeling, representing conditions in which vascular NO levels would be expected to be elevated.
Reconstructing Ancient History-- Historiographical Review of the Ancient History of Korea, 1950s-2000s

The ancient history of Korea has been one of the most controversial and difficult phases to incorporate into an East Asian history survey class, not only because there are indeed quite a number of contested issues, but also because very few updated materials are available in English. This essay aims to provide a comprehensive and critical overview of research on the topic of Korean ancient history in the past six decades (mainly in South Korea), so that the ancient history of Korea can be understood first within the broader frame of East Asian history, and then in relation to the intellectual and ideological evolution which has significantly impacted historical interpretations in South Korea.
Evidence-based practices for co-occurring disorders in offenders

AbstractIndividuals with substance use and concurrent mental disorders or co-occurring disorders (CODs) present numerous risks and treatment challenges. CODs are particularly pronounced within criminal justice settings. Offenders with CODs have higher risk for recidivism and have unique problems including criminal thinking and antisocial behaviours, commonly referred to as “criminogenic needs”. Two important frameworks for treating CODs with offender populations are the Risk-Need-Responsivity Model (RNR) and the Social Learning Model (SLM). These help to guide the application of integrated evidence-based treatments (EBTs) including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), behavioural modification, behavioural social skills training and family therapy. Programmatic adaptions include comprehensive screening/assessment, specialised tracks for dual diagnoses, intensive and phased treatment, ancillary services (e.g. peer support, relapse prevention), cross-training of staff, interdi...
The dopamine D3 receptor antagonist, SR 21502, facilitates extinction of cocaine conditioned place preference.

Abstract Background Pharmacotherapeutic agents that could facilitate extinction of cocaine cues would be useful in the treatment of cocaine addiction. We tested whether SR 21502, a selective dopamine (DA) D3 receptor antagonist, can facilitate extinction of cocaine conditioned place preference (CPP) in rats. Methods In experiment 1, cocaine (10 mg/kg) CPP was first established and then extinguished. During the extinction phase the rats were injected with SR 21502 and placed in the previously cocaine-paired compartment for four sessions and vehicle in the other compartment on four alternating sessions. The rats were then tested again for cocaine CPP. In experiment 2, different groups of rats were trained to associate SR 21502 with one compartment and saline with the other. Results In experiment 1, the animals spent significantly more time in the cocaine-paired compartment after cocaine conditioning than they did before conditioning. Subsequently, the animals treated with SR 21502 during the extinction phase spent significantly less time in the cocaine-paired compartment than the vehicle group. In experiment 2, animals conditioned with SR 21502 preferred neither side of the CPP apparatus, indicating that SR 21502 produced no effects of its own. Conclusions These findings suggest that treatment with SR 21502, a DA D3 receptor antagonist, in the presence of cocaine cues can facilitate extinction of cocaine CPP and further suggest that this compound might be an effective cocaine addiction treatment.
Application of near infrared spectroscopy in cotton fiber micronaire measurement

Abstract The term “micronaire” describes an important cotton fiber property by characterizing both the fiber maturity and fineness. In practice, micronaire is regularly measured in laboratories with the well established high volume instrumentation (HVI™) protocol. In most scenarios, cotton breeders/geneticists sent cotton breeding line field trial samples to laboratories equipped to use the HVI™ systems available for fiber micronaire determination. Researchers have previously investigated the use of NIR as an alternative means of measuring micronaire either at breeding sites or in standard laboratories. As a proof-of-concept investigation, this study collected both near infrared (NIR) spectra and HVI™ micronaire from a total of 381 cottons harvested in the 2011 and 2012 crop years. Partial least square (PLS) calibration model relating NIR spectral information to fiber HVI™ micronaire was developed and then applied to both a validation sample set from identical crop years and an independent test sample set from the 2014 crop year. Results indicated an acceptable bias (or differences between HVI™ measured and NIR predicted micronaire) and an over 97% correctly predicted micronaire (within ±0.30 micronaire unit) in an independent test set. Therefore, the development of a robust and effective NIR model for rapid laboratory micronaire assessment that would be applicable to remote/breeding locations is feasible.
Capturing Individual and Group Behavior with Wearable Sensors

We show how to obtain high level descriptions of human behavior in terms of physical activity, speech activity, face-to-face interaction (f2f), physical proximity, and social network attributes from sensor data. We present experimental results that showthat it is possible to identify individual personality traits as well as subjective and objective group performance metrics from low level data collected using wearable sensors.
Collaborative Workflow Technology for Design and Manufacturing Coordination: An Overview

Manufacturing companies often face a harsh problem caused by misunderstanding between engineering and manufacturing departments. Based on different perspectives, they both strive to achieve some goals without fully evaluating the impacts of their decisions. Ambiguity in the description of responsibilities, interactions and processes makes collaborative product design and manufacturing very difficult to address. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of collaborative workflow technology which is made up of three major parts, workflow, software agents and Web services. We propose to use collaborative workflow technologies to facilitate heterogeneous processes of product design and manufacturing processes.© 2007 ASME
Unusual features of brain stem tumors.

Because radiation benefits about 50 percent of patients with brain stem glioma, early diagnosis is important. Diagnosing such lesions is not difficult if multiple cranial nerve palsies and long motor tract and cerebellar signs exist. However, unusual neurologic features, as shown in four cases presented here, may suggest a different cause and thus delay correct diagnosis.
Software-defined consistency group abstractions for virtual machines

In this paper we propose a practical scalable software-level mechanism for taking crash-consistent snapshots of a group of virtual machines. The group is dynamically defined at the software virtualization layer allowing us to move the consistency group abstraction from the hardware array layer into the hypervisor with very low overhead (~ 50 msecs VM freeze time). This low overhead allows us to take crash-consistent snapshots of large software-defined consistency groups at a reasonable frequency, guaranteeing low data loss for disaster recovery. To demonstrate practicality, we use our mechanism to take crash-consistent snapshots of multi-disk virtual machines running two database applications: PostgreSQL, and Apache Cassandra. Deployment experiments confirm that our mechanism scales well with number of VMs, and snapshot times remain invariant of virtual disk size and usage.
Cosmopolitan Ethics, Communal Reciprocity, and Global Environmentalism

If the world is to contain a public space, it cannot be erected for one generation and planned for the living only; it must transcend the life-span of mortal men. Hannah Arendt, The Human Condition In the last chapter I argued that the requirement of reciprocity as an element of justice rendered justice possible only within a community that is characterized by a set of both shared interests and moral beliefs. I concluded by arguing that when applied to environmental justice, this means that communities are in a relationship of reciprocity with only their own future generations and not with all future persons. This less-than-cosmopolitan requirement of reciprocity has both moral and political significance, especially because, as we saw Brian Barry argue in Chapter 1, it raises the possibility that moral communities will ignore the welfare of other future communities to which one's own community's successor generations will not belong. In moral terms this possibility appears to allow too unacceptable levels of preferential treatment (even if reciprocal) for it to be associated with the concept of justice; in political terms it seems to lionize nationalism at its worst. To avoid such dismal conclusions, we should first recognize that both moral philosophy and political theory have long histories of considering the place of “moral particularism” (as philosophers refer to preference for compatriots) and of nationalism within the realm of justice.
Mass Media and Political Decision Making: Application of the Accumulated Information Model to the 1980 Presidential Election

(1986). Mass Media and Political Decision Making: Application of the Accumulated Information Model to the 1980 Presidential Election. Annals of the International Communication Association: Vol. 9, Communication Yearbook 9, pp. 642-657.
Microbial Interactions on Coral Surfaces and Within the Coral Holobiont

Microbial communities associated with coral surfaces are diverse and complex. They play key roles in nutrient acquisition by coral holobionts and in responses to stressors and diseases. Members of coral-associated microbiota produce antimicrobial compounds, inhibit cell-to-cell signaling, and disrupt virulence in opportunistic pathogens. Characterization of coral-associated microbial communities suggests that metabolic capabilities define the core members of the communities. However, some taxonomic conservation is becoming evident in microbial communities associated with the same coral species and genera in different geographic regions. Even though shifts in the composition of coral microbiota often correlate with the appearance of signs of diseases and/or bleaching, it is not yet clear to what extent these shifts are a cause or a consequence of diseases. This chapter focuses on interactions within coral-associated microbial communities and suggests potentially interesting directions for future research.
VACCINE SAFETY: REAL AND PERCEIVED ISSUES

Most adverse events caused by the vaccines are mild, and the serious adverse events caused by vaccines are usually rare. Vaccines are the most effective tools available for the prevention, and control of infectious diseases. Widespread use of vaccines has prevented millions of premature deaths, paralysis, blindness, and neurological damage. When compared to the risk of serious complications from the diseases that the vaccines protect against, the risks of serious consequences are usually 1000-fold, or greater with the natural disease than the vaccine. Vaccines, which are administered to healthy people, are held to a higher safety standard than medications to treat people who are already ill. Vaccines are often given universally to infants and children as even a very low risk of serious side effects can result in a substantial population-attributable risk. Efforts need to be made to increase understanding by the general public, and healthcare practitioners of how vaccine safety issues are properly investigated, and what constitutes evidence for causal relationships in order to minimize the risks for the public that the vaccines used to protect against disease, are as safe as possible.
Identifying Functional Cysteine Residues in the Mitochondria

The mitochondria are dynamic organelles that regulate oxidative metabolism and mediate cellular redox homeostasis. Proteins within the mitochondria are exposed to large fluxes in the surrounding redox environment. In particular, cysteine residues within mitochondrial proteins sense and respond to these redox changes through oxidative modifications of the cysteine thiol group. These oxidative modifications result in a loss in cysteine reactivity, which can be monitored using cysteine-reactive chemical probes and quantitative mass spectrometry (MS). Analysis of cell lysates treated with cysteine-reactive probes enable the identification of hundreds of cysteine residues, however, the mitochondrial proteome is poorly represented (<10% of identified peptides), due to the low abundance of mitochondrial proteins and suppression of mitochondrial peptide MS signals by highly abundant cytosolic peptides. Here, we apply a mitochondrial isolation and purification protocol to substantially increase coverage of the mit...
Treating the Child or Syndrome: Does Context Matter for Treatment Decisions for Antisocially Behaving Youth?

Using a between-subject 3 × 3 design of an experimentally manipulated realistic case vignette of Black, White, and Hispanic youth in a survey mailed to 1540 experienced psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers, the authors examined if clinicians alter their judgments about treatment for antisocially behaving youth based on the symptom’s social context (e.g., life circumstances) and the youth’s race or ethnicity, even among youth who are otherwise identical in terms of behavioral symptoms. Vignettes describe behaviors meeting DSM-IV criteria for conduct disorder, but contain contextual information suggesting either internal dysfunction (ID) or a normal response to a difficult environment [i.e., environmental-reaction (ER)]. Comparison was symptom-only (SO). Judgments of effectiveness of 14 treatments for youth exhibiting antisocial behavior were examined. Frequencies and median scores of perceived effectiveness level (1–9, Likert) were compared in bivariate analyses, stratifying context and youth’s race or ethnicity. The context of the behavior was associated significantly with differences in effectiveness judgments in 13 of 14 treatments. Within ID and ER contexts, clinicians judged three different treatments as effective (median ≥ 7 of 9). In the SO condition, clinicians were less selective, judging six as effective. In the ID context, psychiatric medications, systems oriented family therapy, and residential care were judged more effective for White than for Black or Hispanic youth. Evidence-based practice research may be hampered by inattention to the social context of behavioral symptoms. Context may activate implicit racial assumptions about treatment effectiveness. Implications are for clinical training to improve service delivery, and future clinical research.
Important Developments in STEM Education in the United States: Next Generation Science Standards and Classroom Representations of Localized Scientific Activity

This paper examines important recent developments in STEM education, especially related to science education in the United States (U.S.). This examination begins with an abbreviated introduction of the newest science standards documents in the U.S., with a specific focus on the structure and main priorities of these documents. This is followed by an explanation of why priority in the standards is given to teachers engaging students in science and engineering practices to use disciplinary scientific ideas in explaining phenomena and solving problems. Finally, attention is briefly given to how these standards documents hold promise for acting as leverage points within the complex U.S. educational system for positively influencing the disconcerting issues consistently reported in national studies of U.S. classrooms.
Breast cancer treatment costs in younger, privately insured women.

Purpose Younger women (under age 45 years) diagnosed with breast cancer often face more aggressive tumors, higher treatment intensity, lower survival rates, and greater financial hardship. The purpose of this study was to estimate breast cancer costs by stage at diagnosis during the first 18 months of treatment for privately insured younger women.
Automatic similarity detection and clustering of data

An algorithm was created which identifies the number of unique clusters in a dataset and assigns the data to the clusters. A cluster is defined as a group of data which share similar characteristics. Similarity is measured using the dot product between two vectors where the data are input as vectors. Unlike other clustering algorithms such as K-means, no knowledge of the number of clusters is required. This allows for an unbiased analysis of the data. The automatic cluster detection algorithm (ACD), is executed in two phases: an averaging phase and a clustering phase. In the averaging phase, the number of unique clusters is detected. In the clustering phase, data are matched to the cluster to which they are most similar. The ACD algorithm takes a matrix of vectors as an input and outputs a 2D array of the clustered data. The indices of the output correspond to a cluster, and the elements in each cluster correspond to the position of the datum in the dataset. Clusters are vectors in N-dimensional space, where N is the length of the input vectors which make up the matrix. The algorithm is distributed, increasing computational efficiency
Beyond Hemispherism: Charles Beard’s Vision of World Order

This chapter explores the developing thought and policy positions of historian Charles Beard from the 1910s through the early 1940s. Reading Beard’s work in the context of the debates and politics of the so-called interwar era opens new vistas onto changing views about the nature of international relations and United States’ proper place within the world system. History was crucial to progressive foreign policy in this era. For Beard, a progressive understanding of the past was essential to interpret patterns and events. His historical narratives, in turn, shaped his vision for present and future policy. Beard’s personal shift is mirrored in his histories. He moved rapidly from a pro-war, Wilsonian interventionist stance, to post-war disillusionment. Beard’s hopes for international peace in the late 1920s, like many liberal intellectuals and activists, succumbed to world cataclysm. By 1940, drawing on the lessons of World War I, he staunchly advocated isolationist “continentalism” and “hemispherism.”
Technology and Human Response to Environmental Change at the Pleistocene-Holocene Boundary in Eastern Beringia: A View from Owl Ridge, Central Alaska

Paleoecological records indicate that from the Allerod to early Holocene interior Alaska underwent significant climatic changes that affected local environments. How did prehistoric Alaskans respond to these shifts between 14,000 and 10,000 cal BP? This paper examines the lithic record at the Owl Ridge site, central Alaska, from a human ecological perspective to explain changes in adaptive behaviors of prehistoric Alaskans. Owl Ridge is a multicomponent site located along the Teklanika River with three cultural components dating to the late Allerod (about 13,000), end of the Younger Dryas (about 12,000), and the very beginning of the Holocene Thermal Maximum (about 11,200 cal BP). We characterize and compare toolstone procurement and selection activities between these components to explore human response to changing climate at the Pleistocene-Holocene boundary. This study shows there were differences in technological organization and land-use patterns between the first occupation and subsequent occupations of the site. Initial occupants of Owl Ridge, utilizing the Nenana technocomplex, were not as familiar with the local lithic landscape as later counterparts. Later occupants, using the Denali technocomplex, exploited a higher degree of local toolstones and had become much more familiar with the local lithic landscape. We argue these changes in lithic technology and raw material procurement and selection behaviors reflect shifting land-use strategies used by interior Alaskans as they responded to climate-induced resource distribution shifts at the very end of the Pleistocene.
Analysis of a Pediatric Home Mechanical Ventilator Population

BACKGROUND: The population of children requiring home mechanical ventilation has evolved over the years and has grown to include a variety of diagnoses and needs that have led to changes in the care of this unique population. The purpose of this study was to provide a descriptive analysis of pediatric patients requiring home mechanical ventilation after hospitalization and how the evolution of this technology has impacted their care. METHODS: A retrospective, observational, longitudinal analysis of 164 children enrolled in a university-affiliated home mechanical ventilation program over 26 years was performed. Data included each child9s primary diagnosis, date of tracheostomy placement, duration of mechanical ventilation during hospitalization that consisted of home mechanical ventilator initiation, total length of pediatric ICU stay, ventilator settings at time of discharge from pediatric ICU, and disposition (home, facility, or died). Univariate, bivariate, and regression analysis was used as appropriate. RESULTS: The most common diagnosis requiring the use of home mechanical ventilation was neuromuscular disease (53%), followed by chronic pulmonary disease (29%). The median length of stay in the pediatric ICU decreased significantly after the implementation of a ventilator ward (70 d [30–142] vs 36 d [18–67], P = .02). The distribution of subjects upon discharge was home (71%), skilled nursing facility (24%), and died (4%), with an increase in the proportion of subjects discharged on PEEP and those going to nursing facilities over time ( P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The evolution of home mechanical ventilation has allowed earlier transition out of the pediatric ICU and with increasing disposition to skilled nursing facilities over time. There has also been a change in ventilator management, including increased use of PEEP upon discharge, possibly driven by changes in ventilators and in-patient practice patterns.
Exploring relationships between measured acoustic, lighting, and indoor air quality metrics logged in K-12 classrooms

Comfort in classrooms engenders learning and countless factors contribute to the quality of an educational environment. A longitudinal study measuring classroom conditions, including indoor air quality, lighting, and acoustic components has amassed data from 220 schools in the Eastern Nebraska area. Measurements logged at time intervals no longer than 5 minutes were taken for two full days in each classroom, three times in a year. Using this data, the relationships over time that acoustic factors have with indoor air quality, thermal comfort, and lighting factors are explored. Correlations are investigated between average measured values, time and spatial variation of measured values, and spectral composition of the acoustic metrics. Besides correlations between the assorted measured quantities, other relationships between the design of the building mechanical and lighting systems and resulting acoustic conditions are discussed; for example, do heat pumps or VAV boxes contribute to significantly different acoustic conditions? [Work supported by the United States Environmental Protection Agency Grant No. R835633.]
Elastography as a Potential Modality for Screening Cervical Lymph Nodes in Patients with Papillary Thyroid Cancer: A Review of Literature:

Papillary thyroid cancer often presents with cervical lymph node involvement and has a high incidence of recurrence, which requires routine follow-up with ultrasound imaging. Elastography is a novel ultrasound technique that has been demonstrated to be effective clinically in detecting tissue pathology in areas such as the liver and breast. Preliminary data suggest that it may be effective in screening tissues in the neck for malignancy, specifically cervical lymph nodes. However, diagnostic criteria and elastographic techniques vary significantly among the studies we have reviewed, which all tend to focus on populations of patients with many different types of primary malignancies. Further research is required on the feasibility of creating standardized and reproducible clinical criteria in a specific patient population. To study the clinical utility of elastography in cervical lymph nodes, patients with diagnosed papillary thyroid carcinoma may serve as an ideal population because of their need for ultrasound surveillance and the propensity of papillary thyroid cancer to metastasize to and recur in cervical lymph nodes. We will review the limitations, techniques, and reported clinical utility of elastography on cervical lymph nodes and its potential as a screening modality for papillary thyroid cancer.
Coping Difficulty, Energy Mobilization, and Appraisals of a Stressor

It has been popular, in recent years, to conceptualize responses to negative events in terms of stress and coping theory (Lazarus, 1966; Mason, 1972; Selye, 1976). Definitions of stress vary (see Houston, this volume). However, the most commonly accepted view at this point is what usually is referred to as the interactionist approach. According to this viewpoint, stress is a psychological response that varies in magnitude with perceived threat. Threat, in turn, is believed to be a function of the severity of a potential negative event itself, and an individual’s perception of his or her ability to cope with that event (Cox, 1978; Lazarus, 1966). The more severe the potential outcome, and the less the perceived ability to cope, the greater should be the stress response, which is proposed to be manifested physiologically, affectively, and behaviorally (Baum, Grunberg, & Singer, 1982).
The Antitrust Emperor's Clothes

Antitrust policy over the last 25 years can claim substantial achievements: the stated terms of the debate have shifted to consumer welfare and efficiency; the 1982 and subsequent Merger Guidelines and the Hart-Scott-Rodino review process provide safe havens, comparative predictability, and effective protection against suits filed after a deal is done; and large-firm monopolization cases have become less frequent, though the Microsoft case represents a notable exception. However, antitrust policy is still not founded on a solid empirical understanding of its effects in practice, and the bipartisan consensus under the Clinton and Bush administrations has allowed a partial return to the policies of the 1970s with benefits that are speculative at best.
An examination of a frame-structured representation system

The Unit Package is an interactive knowledge representation system with representations for individuals, classes, indefinite individuals, and abstractions. Links between the nodes are structured with explicit definitional roles, types of inheritance, defaults, and various data formats. This paper presents the general ideas of the Unit Package and compares it with other current knowledge representation languages. The Unit Package was created for a hierarchical planning application, and is now in use by several AI projects.
Harvesting of Ambient Floor Vibration Energy Utilizing Micro-Electrical Mechanical Devices

Recent advances in device fabrication and energy harvesting technology combined with an increasing need for sustainable energy generation have encouraged the development of the micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) energy harvesting model for floor vibrations presented herein. By calibrating arrays of MEMS energy harvesters in resonance with floor vibrations, building occupants become sustainable energy sources. Optimization of these harvesters to frequency ranges of floor vibrations, subsequent synchronization of harvester location to occupant flow and improved electromechanical modeling may result in an efficient, passive power source for low-demand applications independent of external environmental conditions.
Metacognition and Middle Grade Mathematics Teachers: Supporting Productive Struggle

Communicating mathematical ideas through writing, listening, and verbalizing allows students to think about how they “think” about mathematics. By focusing this communication on a reflection of how...
Special Issue Honoring Professor Hasan Mukhtar

The purpose of this Special Issue is to honor Professor Hasan Mukhtar, whose contributions in the research areas of Photobiology, Photomedicine, Photocarcinogenesis and Chemoprevention are well-known. Dr. Mukhtar has been a teacher, mentor and colleague to me for the last 20 years. He is a researcher extraordinaire, a mentor par excellence and a true gentleman. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Record of Hg pollution around outset of colonization in Southern Brazil.

This study presents results of a sediment core located in Coroa de Boi Bay, a not dredged cove within Patos Estuary, Southern Brazil. The distribution of metals (Hg, Cu, Pb) and U in the sediment profile records several contamination events since pre-colonial times to present days. A joint assessment of the distribution of these parameters and the consultation to historical documents allowed us to establish causal links between concentrations anomalies in the sediments and ancient anthropogenic contamination in the area. During the industrial period, sedimentation rates in the bay ranged from 3.4 to 5.5 mm year−1. Applying a sedimentation rate previously calculated for undisturbed sediments in the Patos Estuary, we trace the beginning of Hg contamination as having started in the colonial period in Southern Brazil, soon after a Hispanic–Lusitanian conflict situation in South America. The most probable source of Hg contamination during this period was carroting technology used in fur processing.
Protection of tracheal explants infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa by subinhibitory concentrations of aminoglycosides

Mortality rates for acute pneumonias caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa may exceed 50% [11] and antibiotic therapy remains a difficult problem. Therapy frequently includes administration of an aminoglycoside alone or in combination with a beta-lactam antibiotic. Animal studies have shown that gentamicin or tobramycin were superior to carbenicillin or ticarcillin in controlling experimental Pseudomonas pneumonia [12]. Observations have also been made in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with chronic P. aeruginosa lung infections which indicated that the lung functions of these patients improved following therapy with aminoglycoside antibiotics although the organisms were not cleared [9]. It seemed possible, therefore, that aminoglycoside antibiotics could prevent lung damage by a mechanism that did not involve inhibition of bacterial growth.
Long-Term Structural Outcomes of Late-Stage RPE65 Gene Therapy

The form of hereditary childhood blindness Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) caused by biallelic RPE65 mutations is considered treatable with a gene therapy product approved in the US and Europe. The resulting vision improvement is well accepted, but long-term outcomes on the natural history of retinal degeneration are controversial. We treated four RPE65-mutant dogs in mid-life (age = 5–6 years) and followed them long-term (4–5 years). At the time of the intervention at mid-life, there were intra-ocular and inter-animal differences in local photoreceptor layer health ranging from near normal to complete degeneration. Treated locations having more than 63% of normal photoreceptors showed robust treatment-related retention of photoreceptors in the long term. Treated regions with less retained photoreceptors at the time of the intervention showed progressive degeneration similar to untreated regions with matched initial stage of disease. Unexpectedly, both treated and untreated regions in study eyes tended to show less degeneration compared to matched locations in untreated control eyes. These results support the hypothesis that successful long-term arrest of progression with RPE65 gene therapy may only occur in retinal regions with relatively retained photoreceptors at the time of the intervention, and there may be heretofore unknown mechanisms causing long-distance partial treatment effects beyond the region of subretinal injection.
Serial Reaction Time Task Performance in Older Adults with Neuropsychologically Defined Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Background Studies have found that individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) exhibit a range of deficits outside the realm of primary explicit memory, yet the role of response speed and implicit learning in older adults with MCI have not been established. Objective The current study aims to explore and document response speed and implicit learning in older adults with neuropsychologically defined MCI using a simple serial reaction (SRT) task. In addition, the study aims to explore the feasibility of a novel utilization of the simple cognitive task using machine learning procedures as a proof of concept. Method Participants were 22 cognitively healthy older adults and 20 older adults with MCI confirmed through comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation. Two-sample t-test, multivariate regression, and mixed-effect models were used to investigate group difference in response speed and implicit learning on the SRT task. We also explored the potential utility of SRT feature analysis through random forest classification. Results With demographic variables controlled, the MCI group showed overall slower reaction time and higher error rate compared to the cognitively healthy volunteers. Both groups showed significant simple motor learning and implicit learning. The learning patterns were not statistically different between the two groups. Random forest classification achieved overall accuracy of 80.9%. Conclusions Individuals with MCI demonstrated slower reaction time and higher error rate compared to cognitively healthy volunteers but demonstrated largely preserved motor learning and implicit sequence learning. Preliminary results from random forest classification using features from SRT performance supported further research in this area.
Reliability and Validity of the Spanish-Language Version of the NIH Toolbox.

The psychometric properties of the English-language NIH Toolbox for Assessment of Neurological and Behavioral Function (NIH Toolbox) have been examined in numerous populations. This study evaluated...