cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Theory in the Mirror of Caste

Sunder Rajan’s essay responds to Gopal Guru and Sundar Sarukkai’s book The Cracked Mirror: An Indian Debate on Experience and Theory . Its primary focus is the authors’ arguments regarding the absence of original theory in the social sciences in India, and the case they make for the imperative need for such theory. The essay also places Guru and Sarukkai in conversation with Franz Fanon. It is Fanon, Sunder Rajan contends, who speaks most closely and pertinently to the question of the “lived experience” that Guru and Sarukkai invoke, in the phenomenological mode, as theory’s other and its source. But it is not exclusively these obvious parallels between Fanon’s pioneering work on the experience and philosophy of race on the one hand, and the contemporary work on Dalit experience and theory on the other, that the essay is interested in tracing. It also draws attention also to a practice of theoretical intervention that Fanon establishes in his work, in Black Skin and in The Wretched of the Earth , that would be of value to caste critiques, which is to use (a certain Other) experience to draw the limits of (European, mainstream) theory.
Spectroscopic and Spectropolarimetric Observations of V838 Monocerotis

The spectroscopic and spectropolarimetric variability of the peculiar variable V838 Monocerotis during the brighter phases of its multiple outbursts in 2002 is presented. Significant line profile variability of Hand Si ii 6347.10 and 6371.36 Aoccurred in spectra obtained between 2002 February 5 and March 14, and a unique secondary absorption component was observed near the end of this time period. Our observations also suggest that multiple shifts in ionization states occurred during the outbursts. Spectropolarimetric obser- vations reveal that V838 Mon exhibited both intrinsic and interstellar polarization components during the initial stages of the second outburst, indicating the presence of an asymmetric geometry; however, the intrin- sic component had declined significantly by February 14. We determine the interstellar polarization to be Pmax ¼ 2:746% � 0:011%, � max ¼ 5790 � 37 G, and P:A: ¼ 153=43 � 0=12, and we find the integrated intrin- sic V-band polarization on February 5 to be P ¼ 0:983% � 0:012% at a position angle of 127=0 � 0=5. The implications of these observations for the nature of V838 Monocerotis, its distance, and its ejecta are discussed. Subject headings: circumstellar matter — stars: individual (V838 Monocerotis) — stars: variables: other — techniques: polarimetric — techniques: spectroscopic
Detection of Metals in the Environment Using a Portable Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy Instrument

A portable instrument, based on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), has been developed for the detection of metal contaminants on surfaces. The instrument has a weight of 14.6 kg, fits completely into a small suitcase (46 x 33 x 24 em), and operates from 115 V ac. The instrument consists of a sampling probe connected to the main analysis unit by electrical and optical cabling. The hand-held probe contains a small laser to generate laser sparks on a surface and a fiber-optic cable to collect the spark light. The collected light is spectrally resolved and detected with the use of a compact spectrograph/CCD detector system. The instrument has been evaluated for the analysis of metals in the environment: Ba, Be, Pb, and Sr in soils; Pb in paint; and Be and Pb particles collected on filters. Detection limits in ppm for metals in soils were 265 (Ba), 9.3 (Be), 298 (Pb), and 42 (Sr). The detection limit for Pb in paint was 0.8% (8000 ppm), corresponding to 0.052 mg/cm2. The higher limit obtained for Pb in paint is attributed to the use of the 220.35-nm Pb(II) line instead of the stronger 405.78-nm Pb(I) line used for soils. Spectral interferences prevented use of the 405.78-nm line to determine Pb in paint. The surface detection limit for Be particles on filters was dependent on particle size and ranged from 21 to 63 ng/cm2. The detection limit for Pb particles on filters was 5.6 μg/cm2.
Gestational diabetes and the incidence of type 2 diabetes: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE —To examine factors associated with variation in the risk for type 2 diabetes in women with prior gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS —We conducted a systematic literature review of articles published between January 1965 and August 2001, in which subjects underwent testing for GDM and then testing for type 2 diabetes after delivery. We abstracted diagnostic criteria for GDM and type 2 diabetes, cumulative incidence of type 2 diabetes, and factors that predicted incidence of type 2 diabetes. RESULTS —A total of 28 studies were examined. After the index pregnancy, the cumulative incidence of diabetes ranged from 2.6% to over 70% in studies that examined women 6 weeks postpartum to 28 years postpartum. Differences in rates of progression between ethnic groups was reduced by adjustment for various lengths of follow-up and testing rates, so that women appeared to progress to type 2 diabetes at similar rates after a diagnosis of GDM. Cumulative incidence of type 2 diabetes increased markedly in the first 5 years after delivery and appeared to plateau after 10 years. An elevated fasting glucose level during pregnancy was the risk factor most commonly associated with future risk of type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSIONS —Conversion of GDM to type 2 diabetes varies with the length of follow-up and cohort retention. Adjustment for these differences reveals rapid increases in the cumulative incidence occurring in the first 5 years after delivery for different racial groups. Targeting women with elevated fasting glucose levels during pregnancy may prove to have the greatest effect for the effort required.
TOCQUEVILLE AND THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

Tocqueville Unveiled: The Historian and His Sources for The Old Regime and the Revolution. By Robert T. Gannett Jr.
Two-dimensional all-optical spatial light modulation with high speed in coherent media

We show theoretical evidence that coherent systems based on electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) can function as optically addressed spatial light modulators with megahertz modulation rates. The transverse spatial properties of cw probe fields can be modulated fast using two-dimensional optical patterns. To exemplify our proposal, we study real-time generation and manipulation of Laguerre-Gaussian beams by means of phase or amplitude modulation using flat-top image-bearing pulse trains as coupling fields in low-cost hot vapor EIT systems.
Permineralized lycopsid from the Permian of Antarctica

Abstract Compression–impression fossils from the central Transantarctic Mountains suggest a somewhat diverse Permian flora, but permineralized peat of the same age does not exhibit this diversity. Permineralized fossils from Skaar Ridge in the central Transantarctic Mountains contain helically arranged sporophylls, each bearing a single reniform-shaped adaxial sporangium that contains trilete spores. Although the fossils are fragmentary, they are important as the first record of lycopsids with cellular detail from the Late Permian of Antarctica. The only Permian record to date of this group from the Transantarctic Mountains is Collinsonites schopfii Schwendemann et al., which consists of only impressions of vegetative parts.
Setting Sail or Missing the Boat: Comparing the Beliefs of Preservice Elementary Teachers With and Without an Inquiry-Based Physics Course

We examined the beliefs about science teaching and learning held by elementary preservice teachers in a science methods course, comparing students who had experienced an inquiry-based physics course with those who had not. Students who had taken the physics course prior to the methods semester were better equipped to recognize and learn from inquiry and better able to apply an inquiry approach to their lesson planning. Students who were concurrently enrolled in the physics course began to revise their incoming beliefs about what it means for students to be active learners in science. The students with no experience in the inquiry-based physics course maintained their limited view that science teaching should be “fun,” with the teacher as teller and fun-maker.
Extending the social information processing perspective: New links to attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions

Abstract Salancik and Pfeffer (1977, 1978) proposed a model of social information processing that specified complex linkages between information, its social context, perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors. Research conducted on the model is reviewed from the perspective of the model linkages. Results indicate that few of the linkages proposed have been empirically tested, with consistent support found only for the effects of social information on satisfaction. Relevant models and concepts from the cognition, social judgment, persuasive communication, and attitude change literatures are used to extend the social information processing perspective to include personal and situational factors related to depth of information processing, attitude strength and stability, and issues of time and attitude change. Revised models of social information processing are developed and directions for future research are presented.
An update on randomized clinical trials in localized and locoregional prostate cancer

It is important that treatment decisions be based upon scientific data, as opposed to anecdotal experience and expert opinion. The goal of this article is to provide an update on phase III clinical trials in localized and locoregional prostate cancer. Studies comparing surgery and observation for localized disease are reviewed, as are studies comparing various forms of radiotherapy. The effectiveness of certain neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies is also addressed. Although there are numerous phase III studies ongoing in these areas, there are still large gaps in our understanding of the treatment of localized disease, and additional clinical trials are needed.
Heterogeneous graph-based intent learning with queries, web pages and Wikipedia concepts

The problem of learning user search intents has attracted intensive attention from both industry and academia. However, state-of-the-art intent learning algorithms suffer from different drawbacks when only using a single type of data source. For example, query text has difficulty in distinguishing ambiguous queries; search log is bias to the order of search results and users' noisy click behaviors. In this work, we for the first time leverage three types of objects, namely queries, web pages and Wikipedia concepts collaboratively for learning generic search intents and construct a heterogeneous graph to represent multiple types of relationships between them. A novel unsupervised method called heterogeneous graph-based soft-clustering is developed to derive an intent indicator for each object based on the constructed heterogeneous graph. With the proposed co-clustering method, one can enhance the quality of intent understanding by taking advantage of different types of data, which complement each other, and make the implicit intents easier to interpret with explicit knowledge from Wikipedia concepts. Experiments on two real-world datasets demonstrate the power of the proposed method where it achieves a 9.25% improvement in terms of NDCG on search ranking task and a 4.67% enhancement in terms of Rand index on object co-clustering task compared to the best state-of-the-art method.
Conditional Approach to Possibility-Probability Fusion

Here, we are interested in the issue of multisource uncertain information fusion. We first consider the problem of fusing multiple possibility distributions. In this case, we particularly investigate the issue of normalization and suggest a generalized approach to the normalization of conflicting possibility distributions. We then look at the fusion of multiple probability distributions. We then suggest a framework to fuse probabilistic and possibilistic uncertainty based on the idea of conditioning the probability distribution with respect to the possibility distribution. We extend our approach to the case where our information about either of the distributions is imprecise, the so called second-order uncertainties.
Development of Cretaceous transpressional cleavage synchronous with batholith emplacement, central Sierra Nevada, California

Metamorphosed strata of the Ritter Range pendant record structures formed during the emplacement of granitic plutons at upper crustal levels (<8 km) in the Late Cretaceous Sierra Nevada magmatic arc. Paleozoic to Middle Jurassic strata of the pendant have been penetratively shortened 30%–50%, forming slates, phyllites, and schists with bedding-inclined cleavage and associated linear structures. The cleavage, secondary cleavages, and folds associated with these cleavages have orientations and geometries consistent with dextral transpression between the Farallon and North American plates. Microstructural relations show that cleavage development accompanied greenschist to amphibolite facies metamorphism. Metamorphic hornblende, muscovite, and biotite in the wall rocks show weak to strong preferred orientation and have 40Ar/39Ar plateau ages ranging from about 85 to 80 Ma. Hornblende, and possibly muscovite, are expected to retain 40Ar at or near estimated peak metamorphic temperatures of ∼500 °C, thus their 40Ar/39Ar ages closely correspond to the time of cleavage formation. Granitic plutons adjacent to the Ritter Range pendant have yielded U-Pb and other ages that cluster from 91 to 82 Ma. We conclude that bedding-inclined cleavage and metamorphism in the Ritter Range wall rocks developed in a dextral transpressive strain regime penecontemporaneously with emplacement of adjacent granitic plutons.
Renal Mass Biopsy—A Renaissance?

Purpose: Advances in our understanding of the natural history and limited aggressive potential of many small renal masses, expanding treatment options and the integration of molecular factors into prognostic and therapeutic algorithms have stimulated renewed interest in percutaneous renal mass biopsy.Materials and Methods: A comprehensive literature review was performed using MEDLINE®/PubMed® to evaluate the indications, techniques, complications and efficacy of renal mass biopsy.Results: Reported techniques of renal mass biopsy vary widely with different modes of radiographic guidance, needle size, number of cores and pathological analyses. Percutaneous renal mass biopsy with 2 or 3 cores using 18 gauge needles may improve diagnostic accuracy without increasing morbidity. Serious complications of percutaneous biopsy are rare and the minor complication rate in recent series has been less than 5%. The reported rate of technical failure of renal mass biopsy due to insufficient material was about 9% before 2...
Two-dimensional image transmission through single multimode optical fibers

The phenomenon of self imaging occurring in a multiple-mode fiber offers a transmission mechanism of 2D images through a single fiber. Potential medical applications of the technique would be the development of disposable single fiber endoscopes or viewing instruments to be used in surgery. In this paper, the theory of coherent light transmission in a multiple-mode waveguide has been described. As a result, a coherently illuminated image will repeat itself periodically while propagating in the waveguide. For the first time in experiment, images have been achieved for a point object transmitted through graded index optical fibers, and the image resolution and the field of view have been obtained. Discussions on problems and improvements are also presented in this paper for the method.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Chitosan fibers with improved biological and mechanical properties for tissue engineering applications

The low mechanical properties of hydrogel materials such as chitosan hinder their broad utility for tissue engineering applications. Previous research efforts improved the mechanical properties of chitosan fiber through chemical and physical modifications; however, unfavorable toxicity effects on cells were reported. In this paper, we report the preparation of chitosan fibers with improved mechanical and biocompatibility properties. The structure-property relationships of extruded chitosan fibers were explored by varying acetic acid (AA) concentration, ammonia concentration, annealing temperature and degree of heparin crosslinking. Results showed that optimizing AA concentration to 2vol% improved fiber strength and stiffness by 2-fold. Extruding chitosan solution into 25wt% of ammonia solution reduced fiber diameters and improved fiber strength by 2-fold and stiffness by 3-fold, due to an increase in crystallinity as confirmed by XRD. Fiber annealing further reduced fiber diameter and improved fiber strength and stiffness as temperature increased. Chitosan fibers crosslinked with heparin had increased diameter but lower strength and stiffness properties and higher breaking strain values. When individual parameters were combined, further improvement in fiber mechanical properties was achieved. All mechanically improved fibers and heparin crosslinked fibers promoted valvular interstitial cells (VIC) attachment and growth over 10 day cultures. Our results demonstrate the ability to substantially improve the mechanical properties of chitosan fibers without adversely affecting their biological properties. The investigated treatments offer numerous advantages over previous physical/chemical modifications and thus are expected to expand the utility of chitosan fibers with tunable mechanical properties in various tissue engineering applications.
ANALYTIC AND ALGEBRAIC EVALUATION OF FRANCK-CONDON OVERLAP INTEGRALS

An analytic and algebraic evaluation of Franck−Condon overlap integrals for harmonic oscillators displaced by an amount Δ and of different frequencies (ω, ω‘) is presented. The results are extended to Morse oscillators to first order in effective anharmonicities.
Interacting RNA species identified by combinatorial selection.

Abstract RNA molecules were selected from a random sequence library for their ability to bind to an RNA stem-loop target. Oligonucleotides with extensive Watson-Crick complementarity to the RNA ligand were selected against by inclusion of a blocking oligodeoxynucleotide in the binding phase of the selection protocol. After 18 generations of SELEX (systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment) a single RNA family was predominant in the binding population. The winning aptamer RNA bound the target RNA with an apparent K d = 70nM. Structural mapping and Fe(II)-EDTA protection indicated that the target RNA interacted with small unpaired loops in the aptamer structure.
Analysis of Catalytic Mechanism of Serine Proteases. Viability of the Ring-Flip Hypothesis

Quantum calculations are applied to the active site of serine proteases, including four specific residues and a water molecule, as well as a substrate and proton donors in the oxyanion hole. Residues are tethered to the protein backbone of an X-ray structure but otherwise allowed to move freely to their lowest energy positions. The viability of the ring-flip hypothesis, which proposes that a 180° rotation of the His-57 imidazole ring facilitates the catalysis, is assessed by comparison of energies of configurations both before and after such a flip. Specifically considered is the contribution to catalysis of the Ser-214 residue and a water molecule that is observed in the active site. The calculations provide detailed information concerning the nature, geometry, and strength of hydrogen bonds that are formed within the active site at each stage of the enzymatic mechanism.
Cooperative Movement Of Wild-type Kinesin And Velocity-deficient Mutants

In the classic sliding filament assay, the molecular motor kinesin exhibits processive movement on microtubules with a velocity that is invariant over a large range of motor concentrations. This indicates that kinesin motors move synchronously at high density, but studies examining the motility of 2–3 kinesin motors have shown a surprising lack of synchronization. These results together led us to believe that kinesin motors under high density conditions can pull one another off the microtubule track, accelerating dissociation. Using a computational model, we can demonstrate that this would enable synchronization of MT movement without complete motor to motor synchronization. To test this experimentally, we combined kinesin dimers containing a mutation in the neck-linker (termed VKN) that elicits a 3-fold reduction in velocity when compared to wild-type motor (5.4μm/min vs. 16.2 μm/min) with wild type motors in the sliding filament assay. No significant amount of microtubule buckling was observed for any mixture of wild-type and mutant motors; even at limiting dilutions, and speckled microtubules moved at the same velocities throughout their length, indicating that the motors behave cooperatively, coordinating their movement through a shared interaction with the microtubule. We plan to examine whether this cooperativity is positive (WT motors accelerating VKN mutant movement) or negative (VKN slowing down WT).
Effect of Leading Edge Blowing Slots on Stall Angles of a 10:1 Elliptical Airfoil

Traditional uses of circulation control have been studied since the early 1960’s and have been developed primarily using trailing edge slots over a rounded trailing edge in order to take advantage of the Coanda effect. The leading edge activated slots allow jets of air to enter the freestream flowing around the airfoil thus enhancing the energy of the lift force. The main purpose of circulation control for fixed wing aircraft is to increase the lifting force when large lifting forces and/or slow speeds are required, such as at take-off and landing. While there is a significant increase in the lifting forces achievable through the use of circulation control, there is also an inherent increase in the drag force on the airfoil (Abramson, 2004, Loth, 1976, 1984). Current effects of circulation control on stall angles of airfoils are not well documented and thus needs to be studied. Stall occurs when a sudden reduction in lift occurs caused by a flow separation between the incoming air flow and the lifting surface. The angle at which this happens is commonly called the critical angle of attack, and is typically between eight and twenty degrees depending on the wing profile, aspect ratio, camber, and planform area. For this study, a 10:1 aspect ratio elliptical airfoil with a chord length of 11.8 inches and a span of 31.5 inches was inserted into the West Virginia University Closed Loop Wind Tunnel and was tested at varying wind speeds (80, 100, and 120 feet per second), angle of attack (zero to sixteen degrees), and blowing coefficients, ranging from 0.0006 to 0.0127 depending on internal plenum pressure. By comparing the non-circulation controlled wing with the active leading edge slot circulation control data, a trend was found as to the influence of the circulation control exit jet on the stall characteristics of the wing. For this specific case, when the circulation control is in use on the 10:1 elliptical airfoil, the stall angle decreases, from eight degrees to six degrees, while providing up to a 46% increase in lift coefficient.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Hyperglycemia in hospitalized patients receiving corticosteroid premedication before the administration of radiologic contrast medium.

Rationale and Objectives To assess the effect of short-term corticosteroid premedication on serum glucose in hospitalized patients. Materials and Methods Serum glucose in adult inpatients receiving corticosteroid premedication before a radiology study was compared to serum glucose in nonpremedicated controls between May 1, 2008, and September 12, 2009. Patients were categorized by type of nonionic contrast medium (intravenous [IV] or none) and route of corticosteroid premedication (oral, IV, none). Diabetes mellitus (types I and II) was evaluated as an independent risk factor. Patients without glucose estimations before and after premedication were excluded. Results were analyzed with analysis of variance and a stepwise linear regression analysis. Results There were 390 corticosteroid premedication episodes in 390 patients; 873 examinations in 844 patients served as controls. Cohorts receiving corticosteroid premedication experienced a brief (24–48 hour) increase in mean maximum postbaseline serum glucose (IV, +81 mg/dL; oral, +70 mg/dL) that was greater than the increase in nonpremedicated controls (+46 mg/dL). Type I (+144 mg/dL) and type II (+108 mg/dL) diabetics had a greater elevation than nondiabetics (+34 mg/dL). Both corticosteroid premedication (IV, P = .02; oral, P = .01) and diabetes mellitus (type I, P = .0002; type II, P P = .7). There was no significant difference between IV and oral premedication ( P = .6), or type I and type II diabetes mellitus ( P = .8). Conclusions Diabetes mellitus (type I and type II) and corticosteroid premedication (oral and IV) are significant independent risk factors for the development of brief hyperglycemia near the time of inpatient radiology studies.
First-generation hybrids of edible passion fruit species

Through cross-pollinations among 42 combinations of 7 passion fruit species, 6 new hybrids were produced. Most of the hybrids were vigorous, but they varied in tendency to flower. Although intermediate to parent species in characteristics of the foliage, flowers, and fruits, unique characteristics were often evident. The hybrids varied in degree of sterility of pollen, and in success of selfing and backcrossing. Pollen was often aborted, but fertility as female was frequently sufficient to permit some seed production. The fruit varied in quality, but one combination, Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa x P. alata, produced a fruit superior to those of the parent species. The possibility of cross-breeding to improve edible passion fruit species has thus been demonstrated.
Diffraction models of radiation entering an aperture for use in a Monte Carlo ray-trace environment

This manuscript presents multiple modeling efforts to describe diffraction of monochromatic radiant energy passing through an aperture for use in the Monte-Carlo ray-trace environment. Described is a deterministic model, based upon Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, which predicts the angle at which an approaching ray is diffracted. The result is a curve which approximates the analytical interference pattern, but does not model the side fringes (i.e. secondary maxima). This model is applicable to either Fraunhofer (far-field) or Fresnel (near- field) diffraction situations. In addition to this model, a diffraction model is presented that approximates the interference pattern including the secondary maxima, as produced by radiation passing through a slit or a circular aperture. This model, based on the Huygens-Fresnel principle with a correcting obliquity factor, is useful for predicting Fraunhofer (far-field) diffraction in the Monte-Carlo ray- trace environment. The motivation for this work is the need to properly model the diffraction of radiant energy as it approaches a detector intended for monitoring the Earth's radiation budget from a geo-stationary orbit. The proposed detector, a linear-array of thermopile elements, is housed in a wedge-shaped cavity with a 60-$micrometer slit through which radiant energy between wavelengths of 0.1 micrometer and 40 micrometer must pass. A radiative model of this cavity which does not account for diffraction effects has already been developed using the Monte Carlo ray-trace method. This detector was originally intended to fly on the Geo-Stationary Earth Radiation Budget (GERB) instrument.
Responses of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1-Infected Cells to the Presence of Extracellular Antibodies: gE-Dependent Glycoprotein Capping and Enhancement in Cell-to-Cell Spread

Binding of anti-herpes simplex virus (HSV) immunoglobulin G (IgG) to HSV type 1 (HSV-1)-infected HEL and HEp-2 cells causes changes in surface viral glycoprotein distribution, resulting in a capping of all viral glycoproteins towards one pole of the cell. This occurs in a gE-dependent manner. In HEL cells, low concentrations of anti-HSV IgG also enhance cell-to-cell spread of wild-type HSV-1 but not of gE deletion mutant HSV-1. These observations raised the possibility that gE-dependent mechanisms exist that allow some HSV-1-infected cells to respond to the presence of extracellular antibodies by enhancing the antibody-resistant mode of virus transmission.
Crack-tip strain field mapping and the toughness of metallic glasses.

We have used high-energy x-ray scattering to map the strain fields around crack tips in fracture specimens of a bulk metallic glass under load at room temperature and below. From the measured strain fields we can calculate the components of the stress tensor as a function of position and determine the size and shape of the plastic process zone around the crack tip. Specimens tested at room temperature develop substantial plastic zones and achieve high stress intensities () prior to fracture. Specimens tested at cryogenic temperatures fail at reduced but still substantial stress intensities () and show only limited evidence of crack-tip plasticity. We propose that the difference in behavior is associated with changes in the flow stress and elastic constants, which influence the number density of shear bands in the plastic zone and thus the strain required to initiate fracture on an individual band. A secondary effect is a change in the triaxial state of stress around the crack tip due to the temperature dependence of Poisson's ratio. It is likely that this ability to map elastic strains on the microscale will be useful in other contexts, although interpreting shifts in the position of the scattering peaks in amorphous materials in terms of elastic strains must be done with caution.
Riot control agents: pharmacology, toxicology, biochemistry and chemistry

The desired effect of all riot control agents is the temporary disablement of individuals by way of intense irritation of the mucous membranes and skin. Generally, riot control agents can produce acute site-specific toxicity where sensory irritation occurs. Early riot control agents, namely, chloroacetophenone (CN) and chlorodihydrophenarsazine (DM), have been replaced with ‘safer’ agents such as o-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile (CS) and oleoresin of capsicum (OC). Riot control agents are safe when used as intended: however, the widespread use of riot control agents raises questions and concerns regarding their health effects and safety. A large margin exists between dosages that produce harassment and dosages likely to cause adverse health effects for modern riot control agents such as CS and dibenz[b,f]1 : 4-oxazepine (CR). Yet, despite the low toxicity of modern riot control agents, these compounds are not entirely without risk. The risk of toxicity increases with higher exposure levels and prolonged exposure durations. Ocular, pulmonary and dermal injury may occur on exposure to high levels of these substances, and exposure to riot control agents in enclosed spaces may produce significant toxic effects. Reported deaths are few involving riot control agents, and then only under conditions of prolonged exposure and high concentrations. Recently, concern has focused on the deaths resulting from law enforcement use of OC, a riot control agent generally regarded as safe because it is a natural product. As with other xenobiotics, not enough is known concerning the long-term/chronic effects of riot control agents. Clearly, there is considerable need for additional research to define and delineate the biological and toxicological actions of riot control agents and to illuminate the full health consequences of these compounds as riot control agents. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Can center-based childcare reduce the odds of early chronic absenteeism?

Abstract This study was the first to position itself in the intersection on research on center-based care and on chronic absenteeism. Given the growth in the utilization of center-based care and given the recent vocalized policy concerns of the detrimental effects of chronic absenteeism in early school years, this study inquired as to whether attending center-based care predicted differential odds of early absence patterns. Using a newly-released national large-scale study of children (the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study – Kindergarten Class of 2010–2011), the findings indicated that children who attended center-based care in prekindergarten had lower odds of being chronically absent in kindergarten. The conclusions were consistent even after employing multiple methodological approaches (fixed effects, propensity score matching) as well as exploring multiple definitions of chronic absenteeism, though were not differentiated by socioeconomic status. Additional noteworthy findings are discussed, including the significance of children's internalizing symptoms and parental mental health.
WisColl: Collective wisdom based blog clustering

The Blogosphere is expanding in an unprecedented speed. A better understanding of the blogosphere can greatly facilitate the development of the Social Web to serve the needs of users, service providers, and advertisers. One important task in this process is clustering blog sites. Although a good number of traditional clustering methods exists, they are not designed to take into account the blogosphere unique characteristics. Clustering blog sites presents new challenges. A prominent feature of the Social Web is that many enthusiastic bloggers voluntarily write, tag, and catalog their posts in order to reach the widest possible audience who will share their thoughts and appreciate their ideas. In the process a new kind of collective wisdom is generated. We propose WisColl by tapping into this collective wisdom when clustering blog sites. In this paper, we study how clustering with collective wisdom can be achieved and compare it with a representative traditional clustering method. We present statistical and visual results, report findings and suggest future work extending to many real-world applications.
Activated protein C protects against ventilator-induced pulmonary capillary leak.

The coagulation system is central to the pathophysiology of acute lung injury. We have previously demonstrated that the anticoagulant activated protein C (APC) prevents increased endothelial permea...
Flow patterns in a non‐Newtonian fluid in a single‐screw extruder

Flow patterns in the channel of a screw extruder have been investigated in a study utilizing a model extruder with stationary screw and a rotating, transparent barrel. Photographs of flow streamlines at conditions over the full range of output restriction are presented for a non-Newtonian fluid. A technique employing photographs of particle tracers was used with the same apparatus to permit quantitative measurement of velocity profiles with both a Newtonian and a non-Newtonian fluid.
Librarians’ Personal Web Pages: An Analysis

An e-mail survey and an investigation were made of academic librarians’ personal Web pages in order to understand what role they play in the organization of the Internet. Subjects were selected from two Internet lists of librarian’s Web pages. Results showed that most Web sites were produced voluntarily and serve multiple purposes. An independent t-test determined that those librarians who were provided with guidelines produced higher-quality Web pages. Guideline effectiveness and suggestions for further research are discussed.
Are there clinical benefits with early erythropoietic intervention for chemotherapy-induced anemia? A systematic review.

BACKGROUND In recent years there has been an increasing debate regarding the benefits of initiating erythropoietic treatment in patients with cancer when anemia is still relatively mild. To address this, a systematic review of studies was conducted that answered the following question: Is there a clinical benefit associated with early erythropoietic intervention (hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL) for chemotherapy-induced anemia? METHODS A systematic review of published literature and meeting abstracts was undertaken to identify relevant studies. Data were extracted from studies meeting prespecified eligibility criteria. For outcome measures not associated with significant heterogeneity, summary measures of relative risk associated with early erythropoietic intervention were estimated using the method of Mantel and Haenszel. RESULTS Eleven studies were eligible and were included in the review. Erythropoietic treatment effectively decreased transfusion incidence and the proportion of patients with hemoglobin < 10 g/dL compared with no treatment, with relative risk reductions of 0.50 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.43, 0.59; 7 studies, P < 0.0001) and 0.40 (95% CI, 0.19, 0.83; 4 studies, P = 0.147), respectively. The findings from both prospective studies and planned subset analyses in which early and late intervention were compared also indicated a reduction in the relative risk of both transfusions and hemoglobin < 10 g/dL after early intervention (0.55 [95% CI, 0.42, 0.73; 5 studies, P < 0.0001] and 0.44 [95% CI, 0.33, 0.57; 2 studies, P < 0.0001], respectively). CONCLUSION Collectively, these findings suggest that optimal clinical benefit from erythropoietic treatment of chemotherapy-induced anemia may be achieved through early intervention. Cancer 2006. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
Combining the effects of surrounding land-use and propagule pressure to predict the distribution of an invasive plant

The distribution of invasive plants across a landscape is largely governed by disturbance invoking anthropogenic land-use practices and propagule pressure. However, spatial variability associated with anthropogenic disturbances and propagule pressure is seldom used to develop distribution models of invasive plants. This study makes use of large-scale survey data to develop a spatially explicit predictive model for the invasive wetland plant—purple loosestrife. Using loosestrife presence data and land use land cover information, we first predicted loosestrife occurrences in two types of wetland habitat, namely herbaceous wetlands and open-water edges, with a series of logistic regression models that incorporated surrounding land-use at three different neighborhood scales. The best-fitting surrounding land-use model was then combined with three different distance constraint models that simulated propagule pressure. Loosestrife occurrence as a function of surrounding land-use showed best fit at a neighborhood radius of 400 m. Predictions made from the surrounding land-use model at the 400 m scale were fairly accurate and loosestrife invasion of wetland locations were correlated with the proportion of anthropogenic land-use conditions. Inclusion of an autocovariate simulating propagule pressure improved model fit and performance significantly. Model findings suggest that spatially explicit incorporation of surrounding land-use yields an ecologically realistic projection of invasion risk wherein disturbance prone habitat edges tend to be more invasible. Combining this prediction with location specific estimates of propagule pressure further reduces uncertainty by spatially constraining areas of high invasion risk. Our approach is applicable to other invasive plants since it is based on two key drivers of plant invasion: disturbance and propagule-pressure.
Modeling of Thermo-Mechanical Stresses in Copper Interconnect/Low-k Dielectric Systems

Systematic finite element analyses are carried out to model the thermomechanical stresses in on-chip copper interconnect systems. Constitutive behavior of encapsulated copper films, determined by experimentally measuring the stress-temperature response during thermal cycling, is used in the model for predicting stresses in copper interconnect/low-k dielectric structures. Various combinations of oxide and polymer-based low-k dielectric schemes are considered. The evolution of stresses and deformation pattern in the dual-damascene copper, barrier layers, and the dielectrics is seen to have direct connections to the structural integrity of contemporary and future-generation devices. In particular, stresses experienced by the thin barrier layers and the mechanically weak low-k dielectrics are critically assessed. A parametric analysis on the influence of low-k material properties is also conducted. Practical implications in reliability issues such as voiding, interface fracture, electromigration and dielectric failure are discussed.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in an adolescent female presenting with Epstein-Barr virus-driven hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: a case report

Introduction Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is characterized by multisystem inflammation, resulting from prolonged and intense activation of macrophages, histiocytes and CD8+ T-cells. Due to its variable presentation and non-specific findings, timely diagnosis can be challenging. This condition has been associated with malignancies, most commonly with lymphomas and leukemias of T-cell lineage. This case report represents the less commonly associated B-cell lymphomas. We also highlight the difficulties in managing hemophagocytosis with an evolving malignancy. This case report will add to the increasing literature on the diagnosis, complications and management of this complex disorder.
Nonuniform filter banks: a reconstruction and design theory

A general procedure for the design of analysis-synthesis systems based on nonuniform filter banks is described. The procedure is based on a time-domain analysis of nonuniform systems, which results in a set of conditions for the exact reconstruction of the input signal at the output. These conditions are used as part of a powerful iterative algorithm for designing finite impulse response (FIR) filter banks with an arbitrary nonuniform frequency resolution. This new framework permits the design of systems with arbitrary rational decimation rates in different bands. Systems based on maximally or nonmaximally decimated filter banks, on low and minimum delay systems, and on block decimators are also among the systems that can be designed using this method. >
Dental Health of Free Blacks in New York State during the Mid‐19th Century

The current research will examine the frequency of carious teeth, periapical abscesses and ante-mortem tooth loss in the Newburgh Colored Burial Ground (1830–1870), a free black cemetery in Newburgh, New York. The Newburgh material is compared with skeletal samples from the New York African Burial Ground, New York State almshouses, a free black cemetery from Philadelphia and middle-class/upper-class European cemeteries. Although previous research suggests that dental health became worse throughout the 19th century, there is no consistent pattern between the 17th-century and 18th-century skeletal sample of enslaved blacks from New York City and 19th-century free blacks from Newburgh and Philadelphia. The frequency of dental caries does increase through time but the other indicators change little (equal or fewer ante-mortem tooth loss) or suggest an improvement in dental health (fewer periapical abscesses) through time. Relative to contemporaneous populations, the individuals from Newburgh appear much more similar in terms of dental health to upper-class and middle-class European groups than to the other marginalised groups considered in this research. The impact of the economic, political and social changes that accompanied the Industrial Revolution and their potential impact on dental health are considered. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Age, Gender, and Crime Across Three Historical Periods: 1935, 1960, and 1985

Two of the oldest and most widely accepted conclusions in criminology are that involvement in crime diminishes with age and that males are more likely than females to offend at every age. But while there is consensus that age and gender are robust predictors of criminal involvement, insufficient research exists on their joint effects. This article examines the issue, using Uniform Crime Report arrest data for 1935, 1960, and 1985, following procedures used in Steffensmeier et al. (1989) (in which, it should be noted, arrest statistics were not disaggregated by gender). The major findings of the present research are as follows : (1) the age-crime distributions of males and females are very similar across all three periods, and (2) the age curves of both males and females shift toward younger and more peaked distributions between 1935 and 1985
Bulk storage requirements in large-scale scientific calculations

The experience and plans of three scientific computing installations with bulk storage are reviewed with respect to capacity requirements, reliability enhancement, and the avoidance of recording delays. The bulk storage requirements of experimental data bases, array storage for large-scale scientific calculations, and large output files are reviewed. Results are presented of a survey of tape libraries in scientific computing installations. From user experience, applications, and the survey results, requirements for two classes of bulk storage devices emerge: dynamic bulk storage devices and archival bulk storage devices. Dynamic bulk storage devices are accessed repeatedly during the calculation, hence the access and bandwidth requirements must be comparable to current large-capacity disks, and capacity should be on the order of 1011bit. Archival bulk storage devices are used largely at the beginning or at the end of a calculation, so access and bandwidth requirements are somewhat relaxed with respect to dynamic bulk storage, but capacity requirements should be at least 1012bit.
The Relationship Between Organization Technology and the Direction and Frequency Dimensions of Task Communications

Studies which attempt to link organization technology and task communication patterns in the organization are few, and most of these deal only with the directionality (i.e., vertical vs. horizontal) dimension. This field study focused not only on the direction of task communications but also on the frequency of task communications. Structured observations, a survey questionnaire, and interview data-gathering methods were used in three departments of one organization, each employing a different technology. Results indicate that for task communications an inverse relationship exists between technological certainty and the proportion of organization member communications which are vertical; a direct relationship exists between technological certainty and the proportion of organization member horizontal communications; and no relationship exists between technological certainty and the proportion of organization member diagonal communications. Also, the data support an inverse relationship between technologica...
Predicting Computer Science Ph.D. Completion: A Case Study

This paper presents the results of an analysis of indicators that can be used to predict whether a student will succeed in a Computer Science Ph.D. program. The analysis was conducted by studying the records of 75 students who have been in the Computer Science Ph.D. program of the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Seventy-seven variables were extracted from each student's record, and the variables were correlated with whether the student did or did not successfully graduate from the program. A multivariate model was developed that predicts success with a high degree of accuracy. Importantly, the model relies on variables that can be determined reasonably early in a student's Ph.D. class work, enabling its use as a selection metric. Hypotheses about the composition of the model are also presented and discussed.