cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Surface channeling in aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy of nanostructures.

The aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscope can provide information on nanostructures with sub-Angstrom image resolution. The relatively intuitive interpretation of high-angle annular dark-field (HAADF) imaging technique makes it a popular tool to image a variety of samples and finds broad applications to characterizing nanostructures, especially when combined with electron energy-loss spectroscopy and X-ray energy-dispersive spectroscopy techniques. To quantitatively interpret HAADF images, however, requires full understanding of the various types of signals that contribute to the HAADF image contrast. We have observed significant intensity enhancement in HAADF images, and large expansion of lattice spacings, of surface atoms of atomically flat ZnO surfaces. The surface-resonance channeling effect, one of the electron-beam channeling phenomena in crystalline nanostructures, was invoked to explain the observed image intensity enhancement. A better understanding of the effect of electron beam channeling along surfaces or interfaces on HAADF image contrast may have implications for quantifying HAADF images and may provide new routes to utilize the channeling phenomenon to study surface structures with sub-Angstrom spatial resolution.
A filter for separating time-limited modal signals

A two-stage deterministic filter is derived which can separate two sets of modal signals when presented with their arbitrary mixed sum on a fixed finite time interval. The assumptions are 1) that the mode locations in the complex plane are known for one set (for example, a finite Fourier series has known modes relative to a given time interval) and 2) the two sets of modes are disjoint. Using integral operations on the mixed sum over the fixed time interval, the filter first estimates the modes in the second set, then estimates the amplitudes of the modes in the first set, thus providing a complete reconstruction of the signal comprised of the known modes. The filter estimate is theoretically exact under the above assumptions and provides a particular kind of least squares estimate when the actual signals deviate from the assumed modal representations. Results of a computer simulation are discussed which illustrate strengths and weaknesses of the filter.
Ultrasonic Study of First-Order and Second-Order Magnetoelastic Properties of Yttrium Iron Garnet

First-order and second-order (in strain) magnetoelastic effects in yttrium iron garnet (YIG) have been studied using a pulsed ultrasonic technique and have been interpreted using finite-deformation magnetoelastic theory. Small-amplitude plane-wave modes in 100g, 110g, and 111g directions in uniformly magnetized, homogeneously deformed cubic single crystals have been analyzed including first-order and second-order magnetoelastic coupling. First-order and second-order magnetoelastic constants have been completely determined for YIG. The second-order "morphic" effect has been analyzed and completely evaluated for YIG in terms of 8 "morphic" constants. Experimental results are described which agree with finite-deformation magnetoelastic theory and disagree with small-strain theory.
Mechanical response to stratigraphic inhomogeneity during extension, and surface expression of buried structures, Gulf of Suez, Egypt

Abstract Mechanical response of the stratigraphic succession to rifting in the Gulf of Suez, Egypt, varies depending on the degree of competence of the rock units. This “mechanical stratigraphy” has been documented by observational evidence from field surveys in the northern Esh el Mallaha and in the Ras Issaran area, in conjunction with seismic reflection data. Complex response patterns to basement-rooted block faulting is seen on several scales in both the prerift and synrift rocks. The prerift section is divided into three major units based on mechanical response: Precambrian basement, pre-Cenomanian “Nubian sandstone,” and Cenomanian-through-Eocene stable platform marine rocks. Brittle faulting in the basement propagates into the Nubian sandstone by densely fracturing the latter parallel to the fault planes. The overlying inhomogeneous Cenomanian-Eocene section drapes and folds over underlying structural elements. These rocks contain complicated structures due to the interlayering of thin brittle and ductile beds. The incompetent units allow bedding-parallel detachment and also flow into voids created during faulting or folding of the competent units. The synrift section comprises three major stratigraphic units, each of which reacts differently to block faulting. These are the early Miocene carbonate/clastic section, the middle-late Miocene evaporite section, and the onshore Pliocene-Recent clastic passive-cover sequence. In general, the lower synrift rocks respond to deformation much like the Cenomanian-Eocene units, draping and folding due to interlayered brittle and ductile beds. Seismic reflection data indicate that the evaporite section is a major detachment zone, with faults in underlying units dying out upwards, as the ductile salts or anhydrites drape and flow. Structural response in this section is varied and complex. The deformation of the evaporites breaks the overlying passive-cover rocks, with faults in the latter soling into the underlying ductile strate. On gravel plains flanking the Gulf of Suez, the neotectonic fault pattern and resulting topographic and drainage changes reflect underlying structures. The faults breaking the passive cover sequence at the surface initially form en echelon traces; with continued movement these coalesce into straight or curved, often splaying, fault traces. Where the evaporite section reaches a significant thickness, the structures seen at the surface may be entirely decoupled from those of the prerift and early synrift sequences.
Effects of tetrahydroaminoacridine on M1 and M2 muscarine receptors

Abstract Tetrahydroaminoacridine (THA) has been reported to improve the memory of persons with Alzheimer's disease, but its mechanism of action is uncertain. We found that clinically effective concentrations, 0.03–0.3 μM, readily inhibit acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase from rabbit hippocampal tissue in artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) at 37°C with physiological levels of substrate. Above 1 μM, THA was found to act at primary and allosteric sites on M 1 and M 2 muscarine receptors as an antagonist. This is not clinically important, and low levels of THA do not improve the binding of the agonist, oxotremorine-M. Only 10–1000 μM THA has been shown to block K + channels. Thus THA probably acts as an esterase inhibitor.
Delayed feedback in a Chinese brush painting interface

In order to provide a sense of working with organic shapes, when designing images in the style of Chinese brush paintings, a delay was introduced into the motion of this objects as they are manipulated by the user. This delay should also provide a similar organic feel to subsequent animations.
Inherent Value and Moral Rights

In Chapter Seven of The Case for Animal Rights1 Tom Regan pro pounds and analyzes a concept of inherent value. He then argues that all humans and animals that satisfy what he calls the "subject-of-a-life criterion'' have this kind of value and have it equally. In Chapter Eight of the book Regan draws a close connection between an individual's having in herent value and its being a bearer of moral rights. I shall examine each of these points in turn in the first two sections of this paper. The third and last section will discuss some aspects of the relation between duties and rights. Although my investigations raise certain criticisms of Regan's views I do not wish to give the impression that his book as a whole is unworthy of serious attention. On the contrary, it seems to me that the book presents the most convincing and best-argued position yet published on the moral duties humans have to animals. What is more, many parts of the book make significant advances on a broad range of more traditional problems in nor mative ethics, including those that concern human relationships alone. As will be evident in what follows, I am in complete agreement with Regan's thoroughly deontological approach to ethics with its denial of the adequacy of consequentialism. In this respect my criticisms are made within the same non-utilitarian framework which Regan himself accepts. Indeed, he offers a number of arguments that cast doubt on utilitarianism as a satisfactory general theory of normative ethics. I shall not, however, discuss the merits of these arguments here.
A new milliped of the Genus Chonodesmus, with a proposed reclassification of the family Cryptodesmidae (Diplopoda, Polydesmida)

Summary Chonodemus gervaisi, n. sp., is described from San Agustin, Colombia. The genus Chonodesmus in many ways provides a link between the three nominal families Cryptodesmidae, Pterodesmidae, and Peridontodesmidae, and it is proposed that the three be combined into a single taxon, Cryptodesmidae, with the other two names retained for subordinate groups. A provisional classification of the family is suggested, including generic synonymy, and the new tribes Lampodesmini, Ophrydes‐mini, Dyakryptini, and Trichopeltini are proposed. The family name Otodesmidae is reduced to subfamily rank, and the name Niponiellidae reduced to tribal status. A key is provided for four West African genera of the subfamily Pterodesminae.
Microelectrode Study of Alternating Responses to Repetitive Premature Excitation in Canine Purkinje Fibers

Microelectrode studies were performed to produce alternation of coupled beats in the specialized conduction system of the heart and to determine the underlying mechanisms of their production. A typical preparation consisted of a superfused Y-shaped bifurcating segment of canine Purkinje tissue, in which the two branches of the Y were approximately symmetrical and terminated in a functionally communicating bridge of myocardium. Transmembrane potentials were recorded simultaneously from a proximal and a distal location in one branch of the Y. Stimulating the stem of the preparation with 60 pulse pairs/min at a critical coupling interval produced alternation of the coupled beats. Alternate reversal of the proximl-to-distal sequence of activation was observed under these circumstances. This finding probably resulted from alternate antegrade block of the instrumental branch accompanied by retrograde conduction through the accessory pathway offered by the other branch and the common myocardial bridge. The validity of this inference was confirmed by microelectrode exploration and by transection of the retrograde pathway. Analysis of the results demonstrated further that alternating block was also intimately related to the alternation of preceding cycle lengths.
Clinical and histologic results related to a low-modulus composite total hip replacement stem.

Background: Osteolysis secondary to stress shielding in patients with a total hip arthroplasty has been attributed to greater stiffness of the prosthetic femoral stem compared with the stiffness of the femur. This concern led to the development of a composite femoral stem implant with a structural stiffness similar to that of the native femur. The stem consists of a cobalt-chromium-alloy core surrounded by polyaryletherketone and titanium mesh for bone ingrowth. The purpose of this study was to determine the intermediate-term clinical, radiographic, and histologic results of the use of this stem. Methods: Twenty-eight patients (nineteen men and nine women) with an average age of 51.3 years underwent primary total hip arthroplasty with the Epoch stem and were followed for an average of 6.2 years. Harris hip scores were determined and radiographic studies were performed preoperatively, postoperatively, and at two-year intervals thereafter. In addition, dual x-ray absorptiometry scans were made up to two years postoperatively to evaluate osseous resorption. Two femora obtained at autopsy thirteen and forty-eight months after surgery were analyzed for bone ingrowth and ongrowth. Results: The Harris hip scores averaged 56 points preoperatively and improved to 97 points at the time of the last follow-up. Dual x-ray absorptiometry scans demonstrated the greatest decrease in mean bone density (27.5%) in Gruen zone 7 at two years. Radiographs demonstrated no instances of migration, and only one hip had osteolysis. All stems had stable osseous fixation. Histologic evaluation of the two femora that had been retrieved at autopsy at thirteen and forty-eight months showed the mean bone ingrowth (and standard deviation) along the entire length of the stem to be 49.62% ± 13.04% and 73.57% ± 8.48%, respectively, and the mean bone ongrowth to be 54.18% ± 7.68% and 80.92% ± 6.06%, respectively. Conclusions: Intermediate-term follow-up of hips treated with the Epoch stem indicated excellent clinical success, radiographic evidence of osseous integration, and histologic findings of osseous ingrowth and ongrowth. Although the implant has been associated with excellent results in both the short and the intermediate term, longer follow-up will be necessary to assess the long-term function of the implant. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Analysis of Adhesion Molecules, Target Cells, and Role of IL-2 in Human FOXP3+ Regulatory T Cell Suppressor Function

FOXP3 + regulatory T cells (Tregs) are central to the maintenance of self-tolerance and immune homeostasis. The mechanisms of action and cellular targets for Treg-mediated suppression remain controversial. The critical adhesion molecules utilized by Tregs for the interaction with their target cells have not been well characterized. We show that human CD4 + FOXP3 + CD25 high cells (hTregs) suppress the activation of mouse responders as efficiently as mouse Tregs. LFA-1 (CD11a/CD18) on the hTregs is critical for their suppressor function, since suppression can be reversed with blocking anti-hCD11a or anti-hCD18 mAb. Tregs from patients with LFA-1 deficiency fail to suppress human and mouse responders. Mouse CD4 + T cells deficient in ICAM-1 can be suppressed by hTregs, indicating that the hTregs target mouse dendritic cells (DCs) through the binding of human LFA-1 to mouse ICAM-1. Coculture of mouse DCs with hTregs, but not hTregs from LFA-1-deficient patients, prevented the up-regulation of CD80/CD86 on the DCs and their capacity to activate responder T cells. Lastly, IL-2 is not required for hTreg suppressor function under optimal stimulatory condition and IL-2 consumption plays no role in hTreg-mediated suppression. Taken together, one of the mechanisms of Treg-mediated suppression functions across species and mediates an LFA-1/ICAM-1-dependent interaction between Tregs and DCs.
Perceived hyperoxia: Oxygen-induced remodeling of the reoxygenated heart

Focal coronary artery blockage followed by further reperfusion injury is commonly involved in myocardial infarction. The injured heart has some inherent reparative responses. Although such natural healing mechanisms seem to be inefficient, a clear understanding of the underlying principles of myocardial healing holds the key to successful therapy. Under normoxic conditions, pO(2) ranges from 90 to <3 Torr in mammalian organs with the heart at approximately 35 Torr (5%) and arterial blood at approximately 100 Torr. Thus, "normoxia" for cells is an adjustable variable. In response to chronic moderate hypoxia, cells lower their normoxia set-point such that reoxygenation-dependent relative elevation of pO(2) (+DeltapO(2)) results in perceived hyperoxia. Perceived hyperoxia induces differentiation of cardiac fibroblasts to myofibroblasts in the peri-infarct region and represents a significant factor supporting myocardial healing. The oxygen-sensitive signaling pathways involved have been characterized and point towards a central role of p21, TGFbeta and p38MAPK. That low oxygen ambience serves as a cue to trigger angiogenesis is a well-accepted notion. Studies related to perceived hyperoxia establish that the sensing of oxygen environment is not limited to hypoxia. It demonstrates that in addition to being a trigger for injury as is widely recognized, reoxygenation insult has a built-in component of tissue remodeling in the peri-infarct region induced by perceived hyperoxia. Understanding of the underlying mechanisms of this and other myocardial healing responses should prove to be instrumental in developing productive therapeutic approaches to mend the infarcted heart.
A sensitivity study of high-resolution regional climate simulations to three land surface models over the western United States

The Weather Research Forecasting model is applied for convection-permitting regional climate simulations over the western United States using three different land surface schemes (Noah, NoahMP, and CLM). Simulated precipitation, temperature, and snow water equivalent (SWE) are evaluated by comparing against Snow Telemetry (SNOTEL) and Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM) observations. The results show that all simulations realistically reproduce the spatial and temporal variability of precipitation without significant sensitivity to the choice of land surface scheme, even though they tend to overestimate the magnitude of the SNOTEL data by about 15%. Comparing the bias with respect to the SNOTEL data, CLM is superior in 2 m maximum temperature, while NoahMP is most skillful in 2 m minimum temperature. Land surface parameterizations have high impacts on snowpack simulations. The SWE peaks too early with an unrealistically low value and also ablates too fast in Noah. NoahMP improves the SWE estimate to some extent, and CLM best represents the observations. Overall, CLM and NoahMP outperform Noah. Further analysis reveals that these differences are largely attributed to distinct rainfall-snowfall partitioning, snow albedo treatment, vegetation treatment, and surface data in these schemes.
The structure of electrospray beams in vacuum

Electrospray atomization of liquids in the cone-jet mode generates narrow droplet distributions with average diameters as small as a few nanometres. This ability is important for technologies such as colloid thrusters, nanoparticle generation and ion beam processes, and the optimization of these applications requires an understanding of the physics and structure of the associated beams. This paper presents a detailed experimental characterization of electrosprays in vacuum and formulates an analytical model of the beam. A key feature of our model is the use of a simplified expression for the electric field induced by the space charge. This simplification leads to a time-independent Eulerian formulation compatible with an analytical solution, in contrast to the direct simulation of a multitude of droplets which must be simultaneously tracked to account for Coulombic interactions. We find that the beams open up in an initial region relatively insensitive to the external electrodes, a process dominated by the electric repulsion between droplets and the initial droplet inertia. Although the external electric field modifies the trajectories of the droplets downstream of this initial region, the effect is moderate in our typical electrospray source and the analytical solution in the space charge region explains well the far-field beam structure observed experimentally. We also describe a numerical scheme that implements the full effect of the external electric field and provides a more accurate solution.
Human neutrophil phosphodiesterase. Calmodulin insensitivity and other properties.

Extracts of human neutrophils were examined for phosphodiesterase activity using a radiochemical assay. As reported by other investigators, both high- and low-Km forms of the enzyme were found. Although calmodulin could be measured in these extracts, human neutrophil phosphodiesterase proved not to be calmodulin dependent. Activity of the neutrophil phosphodiesterase was also not altered by physiologic concentrations of indomethacin,p-bromophenacyl bromide, eicosatetraenoic acid, or eicosatetraynoic acid, all inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolism. These results are relevant to stimulus-secretion coupling in neutrophils, wherein calmodulin-dependent reactions play a vital role.
Achieving fair rates with ingress policing

We study a simple ingress policing scheme for a stochastic queuing network that uses a round-robin service discipline, and derive conditions under which the flow rates approach a max-min fair share allocation. The scheme works as follows: Whenever any of a flow's queues exceeds a policing threshold, the network discards that flow's arriving packets at the network ingress, and does so until all of that flow's queues fall below their thresholds. To prove our results, we use previously known results relating the stability of a queuing system to the stability of its fluid limit and extend these results to relate the flow rates of the stochastic system to those of a corresponding fluid model. In particular, we consider the fluid limit of a sequence of queuing networks with increasing thresholds. Using a Lyapunov function derived from the fluid limits, we find that as the policing thresholds are increased the state of the stochastic system is attracted to a relatively smaller and smaller neighborhood surrounding the equilibrium of the fluid model. We then show how this property implies that the achieved flow rates approach the max-min rates predicted by the fluid model.
Cutaneous C-polymodal fibers lacking TRPV1 are sensitized to heat following inflammation, but fail to drive heat hyperalgesia in the absence of TPV1 containing C-heat fibers

Previous studies have shown that the TRPV1 ion channel plays a critical role in the development of heat hyperalgesia after inflammation, as inflamed TRPV1-/- mice develop mechanical allodynia but fail to develop thermal hyperalgesia. In order to further investigate the role of TRPV1, we have used an ex vivo skin/nerve/DRG preparation to examine the effects of CFA-induced-inflammation on the response properties of TRPV1-positive and TRPV1-negative cutaneous nociceptors. In wildtype mice we found that polymodal C-fibers (CPMs) lacking TRPV1 were sensitized to heat within a day after CFA injection. This sensitization included both a drop in average heat threshold and an increase in firing rate to a heat ramp applied to the skin. No changes were observed in the mechanical response properties of these cells. Conversely, TRPV1-positive mechanically insensitive, heat sensitive fibers (CHs) were not sensitized following inflammation. However, results suggested that some of these fibers may have gained mechanical sensitivity and that some previous silent fibers gained heat sensitivity. In mice lacking TRPV1, inflammation only decreased heat threshold of CPMs but did not sensitize their responses to the heat ramp. No CH-fibers could be identified in naive nor inflamed TRPV1-/- mice. Results obtained here suggest that increased heat sensitivity in TRPV1-negative CPM fibers alone following inflammation is insufficient for the induction of heat hyperalgesia. On the other hand, TRPV1-positive CH fibers appear to play an essential role in this process that may include both afferent and efferent functions.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of brief and expanded evidence-based risk reduction interventions for HIV-infected people who inject drugs in the United States.

Aims Two behavioral HIV prevention interventions for people who inject drugs (PWID) infected with HIV include the Holistic Health Recovery Program for HIV+ (HHRP+), a comprehensive evidence-based CDC-supported program, and an abbreviated Holistic Health for HIV (3H+) Program, an adapted HHRP+ version in treatment settings. We compared the projected health benefits and cost-effectiveness of both programs, in addition to opioid substitution therapy (OST), to the status quo in the U.S. Methods A dynamic HIV transmission model calibrated to epidemic data of current US populations was created. Projected outcomes include future HIV incidence, HIV prevalence, and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained under alternative strategies. Total medical costs were estimated to compare the cost-effectiveness of each strategy. Results Over 10 years, expanding HHRP+ access to 80% of PWID could avert up to 29,000 HIV infections, or 6% of the projected total, at a cost of $7,777/QALY gained. Alternatively, 3H+ could avert 19,000 infections, but is slightly more cost-effective ($7,707/QALY), and remains so under widely varying effectiveness and cost assumptions. Nearly two-thirds of infections averted with either program are among non-PWIDs, due to reduced sexual transmission from PWID to their partners. Expanding these programs with broader OST coverage could avert up to 74,000 HIV infections over 10 years and reduce HIV prevalence from 16.5% to 14.1%, but is substantially more expensive than HHRP+ or 3H+ alone. Conclusions Both behavioral interventions were effective and cost-effective at reducing HIV incidence among both PWID and the general adult population; however, 3H+, the economical HHRP+ version, was slightly more cost-effective than HHRP+.
Propagation modeling of indoor wireless communications at 60 GHz

In this paper, based on a 3D ray-tracing analysis, statistical parameters (i.e. mean excess delay and rms delay spread) for site-specific indoor environments were extracted. The fading statistics of these indoor environments were shown to obey a Weibull distribution. As is well-known, fading statistics are necessary for predicting channel capacity limit and this were presented in the conference.
Small places, then and now: Frantz Fanon, Jamaica Kincaid, and the futures of postcolonial criticism

In this essay, I consider Frantz Fanon’s legacy by placing Fanon in conversation with the Antiguan‐born novelist and essayist Jamaica Kincaid. I argue that this conversation has the potential to help us re‐imagine ways for postcolonial criticism to more effectively address our current moment of globalization. This means not only reassessing the insights found in the work of Fanon and Kincaid but also reassessing the larger potential found in imaginative writing to help effect transformations in the postcolonial political situations we face today.
The Disheartened Teacher: Living in the Age of Standardisation, High-stakes Assessments, and No Child Left Behind (NCLB)

There has been a universal movement towards government-regulated standardisation and high-stakes assessment. In the United States, this has resulted in the No Child Left Behind Act (2001). Because of the predominant focus on high-stakes reading and writing assessments required by NCLB, teachers in the subject area of English/Language Arts (ELA) have been victims of increased expectations and regimentation, more so than most other content areas. Therefore, for teachers today, both in ELA and across the curriculum, NCLB is harming teachers, their practice and their long-term commitment to the teaching profession.
Regime Type, the Fate of Leaders, and War

We propose and test a formal model of war and domestic politics, building on recent evidence on the relationship between regime type, the effect of war on the probability of losing office, and the consequences of losing office. The less the outcome of international interaction affects a leader’s tenure and the less punitive are the consequences of losing office, the more a leader is willing to make concessions to strike a peaceful bargain. We demonstrate that our theory successfully predicts war involvement among nondemocratic regime types. Moreover, our theory offers an intuitive explanation for the democratic peace. Compared to nondemocratic leaders, the tenure of democratic leaders depends relatively little on the war outcome, and democratic leaders fare relatively well after losing office. Thus, democratic leaders should be more willing and able to avoid war, especially with other democrats.
Barriers and enablers to becoming abortion providers: the reproductive health program.

Background and objectives Despite abortion being one of the most common procedures undergone by women of reproductive age in the United States, the number of abortion providers has been declining for the last 20 years. We sought to assess the long-term impact of the Reproductive Health Program (RHP), a national elective abortion training program for primary care abortion providers that operated from 1999-2005. Methods We conducted a mixed-methods cross-sectional study of 220 former RHP trainees. Participants were interviewed over the phone and asked a series of questions about their training at RHP, their current practice, abortion provision since RHP, and enablers and barriers to abortion provision. Results More than half of respondents (58.8%) have provided any abortions since RHP; more have provided medical abortions (56.5%) than surgical abortions (47.1%). Of respondents who have provided abortions, most have performed more than 50 surgical (87.5%) or medical (77.1%) abortions since RHP and had provided an abortion in the last 3 months (67.5%, 70.8%). More than 90% of abortion providers reported having liability insurance that covers abortion, colleague support, ease of obtaining medications and/or equipment, reimbursement, and administrative and/or staff support at the site where they provide abortions. Relative to providers, the greatest barriers reported by non-providers were lack of skills, concerns about liability, and difficulty obtaining supplies. Conclusions Our findings suggest that the RHP model of elective training can yield a substantial percentage of abortion providers. We also describe enablers and barriers to provision once trainees are in practice, highlighting the importance of continued support after training is completed.
An End to the Controversy? A Reply to Rips

Lance J. Rips’s The Psychology of Proof (Rips 1994) defended formal proofs, which his PSYCOP theory derives from rules of inference like those of a logical calculus. In my review (Johnson-Laird 1997), I congratulated him on having formulated the best available formal theory, but I defended mental models. They are the end product of perception and of understanding discourse, and they can be used for reasoning by testing whether any models of the premises are counterexamples to conclusions. Rips’s reply to my review (Rips 1997) clarifies the goals of his theory, brings out some further points in its favor, responds to my criticisms, and attacks the mental-model theory. Yet, despite our negative assessments of one another’s theories, Rips and I have much in common. We both believe that deduction is a major mental ability, that cognitive scientists should implement their theories in computer programs, and that the controversy will be resolved by empirical observations. What is needed, in fact, is a robust and surprising phenomenon that one theory predicts and that the other theory neither predicts nor accommodates. This note describes such a phenomenon, but it begins with Rips’s reply.
Culture and the Problem of Universal Access to Electronic Information Systems

The technical design of information systems tends to drive the information structure and content of the systems and is not driven by the social and cultural needs of end users. The content, structure, and context of end user communication strategies should be a component of systems design for the National Information Infrastructure (NII). Without such integration of the communication strategies of multiple end user groups and communities, universal access to the NII cannot be guaranteed.
Psychiatric Hospital Outcomes of Dual Diagnosis Patients Under Managed Care

The authors compared patterns of psychiatric hospitalization utilization and outcomes between persons with and without co-existing substance-related disorders in a managed care environment by means of a prospective follow-along study of persons hospitalized for psychiatric reasons under the auspices of a large regional managed care firm. Forty-two psychiatric inpatients with comorbid substance disorders and 121 inpatients without coexisting substance disorders were compared across measures of service use and psychiatric acuity. Readmission to the hospital was assessed at 30 days and after 6 months. Patients with coexisting substance disorders spent fewer days in the hospital, but were rehospitalized at a higher rate both within 30 days and (significantly) after 6 months. These results suggest that the revolving-door pattern of service utilization is also present in managed care environments.
Analytical modeling and performance evaluation of the HIPERLAN CAC layer protocol for real-time traffic

The growing interest in wireless systems and networks has led to the first wireless LAN (WLAN) protocols. The medium access control (MAC) layer protocols of such protocol suites are of key importance. The Radio Equipment and Systems (RES) Technical Committee of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute has proposed the high PErformance radio LAN (HIPERLAN) protocol suite. We present, study, analyze and evaluate the performance of the channel access control layer (lower sublayer of the MAC layer) of the HIPERLAN protocol suite for real-time traffic numerical results from both analysis and simulation are presented, so that the issues involved are better understood.
Morphological studies of vertically aligned TiO 2 nanotubes for high efficiency solar cells

TiO 2 nanotubes (TiNT) were fabricated for different anodization time viz. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 hours at a constant DC voltage (60V). Effect of anodization time on the tube parameters such as diameter, length, effective surface area, tube density and diameter distribution profile were studied. It was observed that increase in anodization time leads to an increase in diameter and length of nanotubes. It was also observed that there is a decrease in number of tubes per unit area i.e. tube density with increased anodization time. Increase in diameter and length reflects that there should be an increase in overall effective surface area. In contrast, decrease in tube density is suggestive that surface area should decrease as there is less number of tubes per unit area. However, calculation of effective surface area per projected area showed an overall increase in the surface area. This is conclusive that effect of increased diameter and length plays dominant role over decreased tube density. PV results also indicated that longer anodization time leads to better photovoltaic performance. Enhancement in PV performance was attributed to the dominant effect of increased effective surface area leading to high dye uptake and hence increased charge injection efficiency. Also, increase in fill factor (FF) was observed at longer anodization time which can be attributed to low recombination due to decreased surface states. The decrease in surface states can however be attributed to decrease in tube density at longer anodization time. This result is representative that higher anodization time can lead to high injection efficiency with reduced recombination leading to better photovoltaic performance.
Hepcidin, a key regulator of iron metabolism and mediator of anemia of inflammation.

Human hepcidin, a 25–amino acid peptide made by hepatocytes, may be a new mediator of innate immunity and the long-sought iron-regulatory hormone. The synthesis of hepcidin is greatly stimulated by inflammation or by iron overload. Evidence from transgenic mouse models indicates that hepcidin is the predominant negative regulator of iron absorption in the small intestine, iron transport across the placenta, and iron release from macrophages. The key role of hepcidin is confirmed by the presence of nonsense mutations in the hepcidin gene, homozygous in the affected members, in 2 families with severe juvenile hemochromatosis. Recent evidence shows that deficient hepcidin response to iron loading may contribute to iron overload even in the much milder common form of hemochromatosis, from mutations in the HFE gene. In anemia of inflammation, hepcidin production is increased up to 100-fold and this may account for the defining feature of this condition, sequestration of iron in macrophages. The discovery of hepcidin and its role in iron metabolism could lead to new therapies for hemochromatosis and anemia of inflammation.
Frequency domain analysis of switching noise on power supply network

In this paper, we propose an approach for the analysis of power supply noise in the frequency domain for power/ground (P/G) networks of tree topologies. We model the P/G network as a linear time invariant (LTI) pseudo-distributed RLC network and the gates (or cells) as time-varying current sources. Voltage fluctuation caused by the switching events is calculated based on the effective impedances seen by the corresponding current sources and the spatial correlation between the nodes of the power network. Superposition is applied to the LTI system to obtain the overall noise spectrum at any node of the power supply network. Inverse Fast Fourier Transformation (IFFT) is then performed on the frequency domain noise spectrum to obtain the time domain noise waveform. The proposed algorithm has a complexity of O(n/sup 2/). Experimental results show that our approach can produce accurate noise waveforms.
Starting New Small Business Institute Programs: A Survey of New Programs Begun Since 1996

In 1996 the U S government eliminated federal funding for Small Business Institutes, resulting in a significant loss of formal SBI membership. A poll of Small Business Institute Directors Association members identified five schools that had started new SBI programs since 1996, despite the lack of federal funding. The authors conducted a survey of these five new SBI programs. The authors conclude that starting new SBI programs is a viable means of offering students hands-on business experience despite the lack of federal funding.
Online Updating of Computer Model Output Using Real-Time Sensor Data

Data center thermal management has become increasingly important because of massive computational demand in information technology. To advance the understanding of the thermal environment in a data center, complex computer models are extensively used to simulate temperature distribution maps. However, due to management policies and time constraints, it is not practical to execute such models in a real time fashion. In this article, we propose a novel statistical modeling method to perform real-time simulation by dynamically fusing a base, steady-state solution of a computer model, and real-time thermal sensor data. The proposed method uses a Kalman filter and stochastic gradient descent method as computational tools to achieve real-time updating of the base temperature map. We evaluate the performance of the proposed method through a simulation study and demonstrate its merits in a data center thermal management application. Supplementary materials for this article are available online.
Identifying Promising New Falcata Alfalfa Populations for use in Semiarid Rangelands

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a valuable crop worldwide. In addition to its use as forage, the nitrogen fixation capabilities of root nodules make it a valuable component for improving soil health. Unfortunately, the semi-arid region of the Northern Great Plains introduces a number of environmental stresses that are detrimental to stand establishment and persistence. The ability to produce adventitious shoots from roots is generally considered a favorable trait for increasing stress resistance. This study aimed to identify alfalfa populations possessing the ability to produce adventitious shoot from root segments. Seven Plant Introductions (PIs), selected from the National Plant Germplasm System, and one commercial cultivar (Persist II) were evaluated. Two 6cm root segments originated at 1cm and 7cm below the cotyledonary node from 1-year-old plants. Root segments were planted in Miracle-Gro® potting soil for 16 weeks. Adventitious shoot emergence was recorded throughout the experimental period. At the end of the experimental period, a number of root segments that produced adventitious shoots, shoot survival, status of flowering and non-shoot-bearing root segment decay were determined. Six of the seven PIs produced adventitious shoots. No shoots produced on Persist II and PI 494662 roots. Among the six populations, frequency of generating adventitious shoots from roots ranged from 3.8% to 57% and frequency of shoot survival varied from 33% to 100%. Speed of regeneration from roots and viability of root segments in soil varied among populations. PI 631678 had the greatest frequency and speed of regeneration from roots, high survival and flowering frequencies. Little difference in adventitious shoot regeneration and survival related to distance below the cotyledonary node within the same populations.
ChordRipple: Adaptively Recommending and Propagating Chord Changes for Songwriters

Songwriting is the interplay of a composer's creative intent and an idiom's language. This language both facilitates and poses stylistic constraints on a composer's expressivity. Novice composers often find it difficult to go beyond common chord progressions, to find the chords that realize their intentions. To make it easier for composers to experiment with radical chord choices and to prototype "what-if" ideas, we are building a creativity support tool, ChordRipple, which (1) makes chord recommendations that aim to be both diverse and appropriate to the current context, (2) infers a composer's intention to help her more quickly prototype ideas. Composers can use it to help select the next chord, to replace sequences of chords in an internally consist manner, or to edit one part of a sequence and see the whole sequence change in that direction. To make such recommendations, we adapt neural-network models such as Word2Vec to the music domain as Chord2Vec. This model learns chord embeddings from a corpus of chord sequences, placing chords nearby when they are used in similar contexts. The learned embeddings support creative substitutions between chords, and also exhibit topological properties that correspond to musical structure. For example, the major and minor chords are both arranged in the latent space in shapes corresponding to the circle-of-fifths. To support the dynamic nature of the creative process, we propose to infer a composer's intentions for adaptive recommendation. As a composer makes chord changes, she is moving in the embedding space. We can infer a composer's intention from the gradient of her edits' trace and use this gradient to help her fine-tune her current changes or to project the sequence into the future to give recommendations on how the sequence could look like if more edits in that direction were performed.
AlPO 4 −Al 2 O 3 catalysts with low alumina content, VII. Anisole conversion in the presence of methanol

The conversion of anisole in the presence of methanol (anisole/methanol molar ratio=4) over AlPO4−Al2O3 (5–15 wt.% Al2O3) catalysts gave a mixture of dealkylated and C-alkylated products (C-alkylation preferentially inortho-position) in which dealkylation to phenol always predominated. The catalytic activity, which increased with alumina content and decreased on increasing the calcination temperature from 773 to 1073 K, was fairly well related to the change in surface acidic characteristics. Furthermore, anisole conversion followed the requirements of the Bassett-Habgood kinetic treatment for first order processes, with a single common interaction mechanism and, consequently, a common transition state for all catalysts. Poisoning by pyridine and 2,6-dimethylpyridine confirmed that anisole conversion occurs on acid sites.
Badgers and bovine TB.

In response to correspondence in last week’s issue on the role of badgers in bovine TB (bTB) ( VR , 22 June 2019, vol 184, p 774-775). Roger Blowey might consider the cited recent reference1 covering trial blindness and David King’s input. The paper challenges the Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT) finding that proactive badger culling can influence rates of new herd breakdown. Blindness is considered a fundamental quality of good experimental design. In the RBCT it is not inconceivable that …
Competition and conflict in the Upper Belize River Valley: Insights from the ancient Maya minor center of Callar Creek, Belize

Political relationships typically entail competition and conflict. Within the ancient Maya world, the Upper Belize River Valley (UBRV) offers one example of an arena of intense political contestation, and recent investigations at the minor center of Callar Creek offer insights into this complex and occasionally antagonistic political landscape. During the Late and Terminal Classic periods (a.d. 600–900), for example, those living at the Callar Creek center appear to have affiliated themselves with the larger center of Buenavista, but not to have developed political ties with those in surrounding hinterland communities. Indeed, Callar Creek provides an example in which the political fortunes of a minor center and its surrounding hinterlands followed divergent paths. Furthermore, a termination event suggests that part of the Callar Creek center was purposefully destroyed by adversaries in the Terminal Classic period, and that discordant relationships in the UBRV at times turned violent.
Higher Order Gradients in Adiabatic Shear Banding

Even though higher-order gradients have been introduced in the theory of solids as early as 1851 by Cauchy [1], it was not until the work of Mindlin [2] that a systematic presentation of the subject of higher-order strain gradients was given in the context of elasticity with surface tension. Dillon [3] motivated by his early experimental observations on the serrated load-deflection curves for prestressed aluminum (attributed to instabilities occurring at the negative tangent modulus regime) involved dislocation interaction mechanisms to justify the introduction of higher-order strain gradients into plasticity theory by adopting, in part, a rather formal “polar” plasticity framework [4].
Assessing the learning potential of an interactive digital game versus an interactive-style didactic lecture: the continued importance of didactic teaching in medical student education.

Games with educational intent offer a possible advantage of being more interactive and increasing learner satisfaction. We conducted a two-armed experiment to evaluate student satisfaction and content mastery for an introductory pediatric radiology topic, taught by either an interactive digital game or with a traditional didactic lecture. Medical students participating in a fourth-year radiology elective were invited to participate. Student cohorts were alternatively given a faculty-supervised 1h session playing a simple interactive digital Tic-tac-toe quiz module on pediatric gastrointestinal radiology or a 1h didactic introductory lecture on the same topic. Survey questions assessed the learners’ perceived ability to recall the material as well as their satisfaction with the educational experience. Results of an end-of-rotation exam were reviewed to evaluate a quantitative measure of learning between groups. Survey responses were analyzed with a chi-squared test. Exam results for both groups were analyzed with a paired Student’s t-test. Students in the lecture group had higher test scores compared to students in the game group (4.0/5 versus 3.6/5, P = 0.045). Students in the lecture group reported greater understanding and recall of the material than students in the game group (P < 0.001 and P = 0.004, respectively). Students in the lecture group perceived the lecture to be more enjoyable and a better use of their time compared to those in the game group (P = 0.04 and P < 0.001, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference between the lecture and game group in ability to maintain interest (P = 0.187). In comparison to pre-survey results, there was a statistically significant decrease in interest for further digital interactive materials reported by students in the game group (P = 0.146). Our experience supported the use of a traditional lecture over a digital game module. While these results might be affected by the specific lecture and digital content in any given comparison, a digital module is not always the superior option.