cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Automated Analysis of Student Verbalizations in Online Learning Environments

We present results in automating the analysis of student verbalizations in online learning environments, using an existing online tool designed to teach students to reason analytically about code as an example. The new extension captures "think-aloud'' data as students work through code reasoning activities. The data is recorded and transcribed automatically and used as input to a natural language processing / machine learning system designed to identify specific student attitudes (e.g., uncertain), behaviors (e.g., guessing), and difficulties (e.g., concept misunderstandings). We present the design and implementation of the tool, an analysis of its transcription accuracy, and an evaluation of its utility in identifying characteristics of student learning.
Who Should Police Politicization of the DOJ

It is generally accepted that federal prosecutors should not use their authority in individual criminal cases to promote partisan objectives. It is less clear who is best suited to investigate and resolve allegations that prosecutors, including possibly the Attorney General, have misused federal power in this manner. Various different officials and agencies have some authority to uncover corruption and political bias in the Department of Justice: At least in some situations, trial courts, federal and state disciplinary authorities, Congress, as well as several units within DOJ itself, can pursue a claim that a particular federal prosecutor was acting for impermissible partisan reasons. This essay analyzes these different actors’ roles and responsibilities and concludes that, for two reasons, the DOJ Inspector General (“IG”) is in the best position to serve this function and ought to be given broader authority to do so: first, IGs are least likely to have a political bias themselves; and, second, the IG has the requisite experience to conduct a thorough investigation and the statutory mandate to make an investigation public. Further, the IG’s power is held in check by Congress, as well as by the President, who has the power to remove the IG from office.
Abolishing Implied Private Rights of Action Pursuant to Federal Statutes

The doctrine of implied rights of action has generated a wealth of scholarship in two general areas: First, scholars have attempted to generate normatively justifiable, generally applicable mechanisms to evaluate implied rights of action. Second, scholars have argued the doctrine should permit private rights of action in reference to specific statutory schemes. To date, however, no scholar has evaluated whether the doctrine is normatively justifiable in the first instance. This Article fills a portion of that gap with three primary arguments. First, this Article argues the Doctrine itself maintains, at most, nominal beneficial utility, as the Doctrine, as currently articulated, is only applicable in remote, isolated circumstances. Second, this Article assesses the costs of maintaining the doctrine using the metrics of both Administrative Justice Theory and Procedural Justice Theory and argues that continuing to maintain the doctrine both generates significant administrative waste and has the potential to undermine the credibility and legitimacy of the judicial system. Finally, this Article assesses the impact that abolition of the doctrine would have on Corrective Justice Theory and argues that abolition would have a neutral impact. Ultimately, taking those three arguments together, this Article argues the doctrine is not normatively justifiable.
Engaging Families in Voluntary Prevention Services to Reduce Future Child Abuse and Neglect: a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Research on secondary prevention is mixed as to whether referrals to evidence-based practices and other community interventions reduce maltreatment recidivism. This evaluation sought to rigorously assess whether a community service–linkage model to evidence-based programs decreased subsequent reports of abuse and neglect among families reported to the child protection system (CPS). Between 2016 and 2018, administrative CPS records were used to identify families with at least one child under 5 years of age recently reported for maltreatment in Orange County, California, but where no follow-up services were mandated. Families were randomized to one of two community outreach and engagement conditions (i.e., targeted provider outreach vs. treatment-as-usual). Re-reporting outcomes were tracked in administrative records for a period of 12 months. A total of 4873 families met eligibility criteria, with 2231 (45.0%) randomized to the intervention arm and 2642 (54.0%) families to the control group. Among families in the intervention group, 811 (36.4%) were successfully contacted by a community provider. Of those families contacted, 145 (18.0%) agreed to participate in voluntary services. Overall, we did not detect any significant difference in re-reporting between our treatment and control groups (P = .433). Likewise, no significant differences in re-reporting were observed when we stratified the treatment group by levels of outreach and service engagement. Findings indicate low levels of successful engagement of families in voluntary services. Notwithstanding the absence of significant findings, this study demonstrates the potential for using community-based RCTs and administrative records to rigorously evaluate secondary prevention programs in the child protection system.
Mapping Digital Game Culture in China: From Internet Addicts to Esports Athletes. By Marcella Szablewicz,. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2020. xvii, 218 pp. ISBN: 9783030361105 (cloth)

According to the China Internet Network Information Center, as of June 2020, 540 million Chinese—57.4 percent of internet users in China—played digital games.1 Despite the remarkable growth in the number of digital gamers and the proliferation of scholarly monographs on the Chinese internet in recent years, little academic attention has been paid to digital gaming culture in China. [...]relatedly, these narratives shed critical light on the state's ambivalent attitudes toward emerging leisure activities and platforms such as livestreaming, mobile applications, and short videos. [...]Mapping Digital Game Culture in China is a welcome addition to the growing field of digital media studies, game studies, and cultural studies.
Use Non-Energy-Curtailment Resources for Primary Frequency Response in Future Low-Inertia Power Grids.

Power grid primary frequency response will be significantly impaired by Photovoltaic (PV) penetration increase because of the decrease in inertia and governor response. PV inertia and governor emulation requires reserving PV output and leads to solar energy waste. This paper exploits current grid resources and explores energy storage for primary frequency response under high PV penetration at the interconnection level. Based on the actual models of the U.S. Eastern Interconnection grid and the Texas grid, effects of multiple factors associated with primary frequency response, including the governor ratio, governor deadband, droop rate, and fast load response, are assessed under high PV penetration scenarios. In addition, performance of batteries and supercapacitors using different control strategies is studied in the two interconnections. The paper quantifies the potential of various resources to improve interconnection-level primary frequency response under high PV penetration without curtailing solar output.
Clinical RNA sequencing confirms compound heterozygous intronic variants in RYR1 in a patient with congenital myopathy, respiratory failure, neonatal brain hemorrhage, and d-transposition of the great arteries.

BACKGROUND Defects in the RYR1 (OMIM#180901) gene lead to Ryanodine receptor type 1-related myopathies (RYR1-RM); the most common subgroup of congenital myopathies. METHODS Congenital myopathy presents a diagnostic challenge due to the need for multiple testing modalities to identify the many different genetic etiologies. In this case, the patient remained undiagnosed after whole-exome sequencing (WES), chromosomal microarray, methylation analysis, targeted deletion and duplication studies, and targeted repeat expansion studies. Clinical whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was then pursued as part of a research study to identify a diagnosis. RESULTS WGS identified compound heterozygous RYR1 intronic variants, RNA sequencing confirmed both variants to be pathogenic causing RYR1-RM in a phenotype of severe congenital hypotonia with respiratory failure from birth, neonatal brain hemorrhage, and congenital heart disease involving transposition of the great arteries. CONCLUSION While there is an ongoing debate about the clinical superiority of WGS versus WES for patients with a suspected genetic condition, this scenario highlights a weakness of WES as well as the added cost and delay in diagnosis timing with having WGS follow WES or even ending further genetic testing with a negative WES. While knowledge gaps still exist for many intronic variants, transcriptome analysis provides a way of validating the resulting dysfunction caused by these variants and thus allowing for appropriate pathogenicity classification. This is the second published case report of a patient with pathogenic intronic variants in RYR1-RM, with clinical RNA testing confirming variant pathogenicity and therefore the diagnosis suggesting that for some patients careful analysis of a patient's genome and transcriptome are required for a complete genetic evaluation. The diagnostic odyssey experienced by this patient highlights the importance of early, rapid WGS.
Output feedback for linear multivariable systems with parameter uncertainty.

A minimax design method is applied to the problem of obtaining an acceptable output feedback matrix for linear multivariable systems with parameter uncertainty. The result is a set of nonlinear matrix equations (similar to those obtained by Levine and Athans (1970)), which must be solved for the feedback matrix. An example illustrates the technique and the fact that better results are achieved for large parameter variation than with a purely nominal design.
Modeling Spread of Heated Water over Lake

Using the dimensionless equations of motion, continuity and heat transfer, similarity criteria for the flow of heated water over and essentially stagnant and colder impoundment are presented. In most cases it will be impossible to satisfy all criteria. Some acceptable approximations are therefore analyzed. Turbulent flow in the model, matching of reduced gravitational forces and surface heat loss as well as sufficient size of the model are considered to be most essential modeling requirements.
Physiology of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Publisher Summary This chapter explores that gonorrhoea is one of the most commonly reported communicable diseases. With the appearance of antibiotic-resistant strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (N. gonorrhoeae), which are thought to be the result of an intergeneric conjugal transfer, the possible loss of efficacy of drug treatment in control of this disease has been forewarned. The development of a vaccine follows basic understanding of human immunity to gonococcal infection because gonorrhoea has no virulence factor against which the person could be easily immunized. The multifactorial nature of virulence and the mechanisms of pathogenesis are examined by an understanding of the basic biology of the gonococcus. This chapter provides a summary of the important aspects of gonococcal physiology that relate directly or indirectly to the disease process. Certain aspects of the physiology and metabolism may be as yet unrelated to pathogenesis, but they provide a base from which future research can be planned. It discusses the differences and similarities between the physiology of N. gonorrhoeae and other pathogenic and non-pathogenic Neisseria spp., where this information is available and pertinent. Knowledge of the physiology of related species may help to delineate subject areas of gonococcal physiology that require additional effort.
Olfactory dysfunction in Parkinson's disease: Positive effect of cigarette smoking.

Background There is compelling evidence from over 60 epidemiological studies that smoking significantly reduces the risk of Parkinson’s disease (PD). In general, those who currently smoke cigarettes, as well as those with a past history of such smoking, have a reduced risk of PD compared to those who have never smoked. Recently it has been suggested that a cardinal non-motor sensory symptom of PD, olfactory dysfunction, may be less severe in PD patients who smoke than in PD patients who do not, in contrast to the negative effect of smoking on olfaction described in the general population.
The Central Park Jogger Case-Police Coercion and Secrecy in Interrogation

Abstract The prosecution and recent legal reversals in the New York “Central Park Jogger” case are discussed with a focus on the preoccupation with crime in US society and concerns regarding racial...
A Proposal for Combatting Sexual Discrimination in the Military: Amendment of Title VII

Each branch of the military excludes women from combat positions. This Comment argues that the combat exclusion encourages sex-based discrimination in the military and should be reformed or eliminated. The author concludes that although the asserted justifications for the ban against women in combat are tenuous, an outright repeal of the combat exclusion is unlikely. She therefore suggests attacking the discrimination that emanates from the combat exclusion with an approach requiring concise articulation of the definition and underlying reasoning of the exclusion. For this purpose, the author proposes expanding Title VII to apply to the uniformed military. The author responds to arguments against authorizing the courts to address issues of discrimination in the uniformed military, concluding that the courts are an appropriate forum for the redress of these issues.
Integrable systems of nonlinear evolution equations

The method, developed by Gardner, Greene, Kruskal and Miura, for solving nonlinear evolution equations is looked at from three perspectives; (i) as a nonlinear Fourier transform, (ii) as a completely integrable Hamiltonian system, and (iii) from the operator theoretic standpoint. The interrelation between the three points of view is discussed and, in particular, the ubiquitous role of the “transmission coefficient” is brought out. The spectral representation of Lax's equation is studied in an abstract setting.
THE FRAUDULENT USE OF DIGITALIS TO SIMULATE HEART DISEASE

Excerpt During the summer of 1937, nationwide attention was attracted by reports in professional publications and in the lay press of an extensive criminal racket based on attempts to obtain paymen...
Subacute Onset of Severe Cidp Weakness Associated With Tumor-Like Nerve Root Involvement: A Case Report (P6.092)

OBJECTIVE: We report a 23-year-old woman with rapid onset of proximal and distal limb weakness and areflexia without respiratory compromise, associated with tumor-like spinal nerve root enlargement and markedly elevated CSF protein. BACKGROUND: Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) has variable phenotypical presentations and course. It is often difficult to delineate Guillain-Barre patients from acute-to-subacute onset CIDP. Both conditions are associated with CSF albuminocytological dissociation and slight enlargement of nerve roots on MRI due to inflammation and nerve-blood barrier breakdown. Sudden onset and rapid progression of profound limb muscle weakness without respiratory involvement raises a concern for etiologies other than GBS, including the subset of CIDP patients who require more aggressive and sustained immune and supportive therapies. DESIGN/METHODS: Our patient developed inability to walk within few days, without preceding illness. Within two weeks, she could not raise her arms and had near-complete bilateral wrist and foot drop. Her cranial nerves and respiratory function remained intact. She received IVIG early on for suspected GBS, but remained wheelchair bound until 6 PLEX sessions were completed two months later. After that, patient continued to improve with IVIG treatments administered every 3-4 weeks. RESULTS: Patient was found to have prominent demyelinating features on NCS, and CSF protein of 415 mg/dl. Comprehensive infectious work up was negative. MRI of lumbosacral and cervical spine showed tumor-like masses mistaken for neurofibromatosis (axial diameter 7.5-10 mm). Repeated MRI 6 months later showed resolution of roots enlargement, corresponding to the patient’s significantly improved ambulatory and functional status. CONCLUSIONS: Rapid onset with fulminant progression of limb muscle weakness without respiratory compromise and associated tumor-like enlargement of cervical and lumbosacral nerve roots is unusual presentation of CIDP. Other inflammatory, infectious and neoplastic processes need to be eliminated. Continuous immune and supportive therapies are required to secure the best functional outcome. Disclosure: Dr. Stoll has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rakocevic has nothing to disclose.
Robust compensation techniques for DC servomechanisms subject to stiction and parametric uncertainties using sliding mode estimation

Sliding mode estimator based control algorithms are presented for compensation of stiction and parametric uncertainties in DC servomechanisms. These estimators utilize the uncertainty information in the present step to generate future control action. The performance of these estimators is verified through experimental investigations, and results indicate that the algorithm provides effective model regulation and stiction compensation.
Interpolation/extrapolation of frequency domain responses using the Hilbert transform

This paper shows that given frequency domain information over a limited frequency range, it is possible to extract information over a broad band and extract a real, causal time domain response. This is done through the use of the Hilbert transform. This technique for example can be implemented in network analyzers and waveform processing equipment.
HIV voluntary counseling and testing service preferences in a rural Malawi population

Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) services have become an integral component of HIV prevention efforts in sub-Saharan Africa. This study of a rural Malawi district population examined variation in past and desired use of VCT services among 868 women aged 15 to 34 and 648 men aged 20 to 44 aware of HIV/AIDS. Only 11% of men and 7% of women had been tested, but of those untested, 76% of men and 61% of women desired testing. Ninety percent of respondents willing to know their results preferred to hear them from a test site counselor and on the same day of the test. However, 27% of women wanting to be tested did not want to know their test results, a finding significantly associated with knowing someone affected by AIDS and perceiving oneself at HIV infection risk. Knowledge of the behaviors of HIV prevention, knowing someone with AIDS, knowing the locations of a test site, and perceived risk of HIV infection all had a consistently significant association with past and future VCT use for men and women.
Prominent role of secondary anchor residues in peptide binding to HLA-A2.1 molecules

The functional determinants of histocompatibility leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A2.1-peptide interactions have been detailed by the use of quantitative molecular binding assays and a chemically synthesized library of naturally occurring epitopes. The importance of hydrophobic anchor residues in position 2 and the C-terminus was confirmed. These anchors are necessary, but not sufficient, for high affinity binding, as the predictions based solely on these anchors are only about 30% accurate. Prominent roles for several other positions (1, 3, and 7) were also demonstrated. The location of these residues within the peptides matches secondary A2.1 pockets previously demonstrated by X-ray crystallography. From a functional standpoint, similar dominant negative effects on binding were observed for charged residues in both nonamers and decamers, while positive effects differed between nonamers and decamers. An extended motif taking into account secondary anchors increased the predictability of A2.1-binding epitopes to a level of 70%, underscoring the practical usefulness of extended motifs.
Physical interaction between replication protein A (RPA) and MRN: involvement of RPA2 phosphorylation and the N-terminus of RPA1.

Replication protein A (RPA) is a heterotrimeric protein consisting of RPA1, RPA2, and RPA3 subunits that binds to single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) with high affinity. The response to replication stress requires the recruitment of RPA and the MRE11−RAD50−NBS1 (MRN) complex. RPA bound to ssDNA stabilizes stalled replication forks by recruiting checkpoint proteins involved in fork stabilization. MRN can bind DNA structures encountered at stalled or collapsed replication forks, such as ssDNA−double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) junctions or breaks, and promote the restart of DNA replication. Here, we demonstrate that RPA2 phosphorylation regulates the assembly of DNA damage-induced RPA and MRN foci. Using purified proteins, we observe a direct interaction between RPA with both NBS1 and MRE11. By utilizing RPA bound to ssDNA, we demonstrate that substituting RPA with phosphorylated RPA or a phosphomimetic weakens the interaction with the MRN complex. Also, the N-terminus of RPA1 is a critical component of the RPA−MRN protei...
Vibration control of rotationally periodic structures using passive piezoelectric shunt networks and active compensation

This paper proposes a multi-mode vibration suppression scheme for rotationally periodic structures. Identical active-passive hybrid piezoelectric networks are applied on each of the substructures, where active charge and current feedback is used together with passive piezoelectric shunts to optimize the network performance. By exploiting the rotational periodicity, a new algorithm is synthesized to analytically determine the control parameters. It is shown that this hybrid approach can suppress all the spatial harmonics, which cannot be achieved by purely passive piezoelectric shunts. It is also observed that such a configuration requires much less control effort (voltage and power) when compared to a purely active approach.
Smoking Susceptibility and Attitudes Toward Smoking Among Chinese and Vietnamese American Adolescents

Abstract In California, 641 Chinese and 629 Vietnamese age 12–17 participated in a longitudinal telephone study from 1999 to 2001. Four attitude scales were constructed: acceptance of smokers, addictive nature of smoking, psychosocial reasons to smoke, and gender roles and smoking. Vietnamese American adolescents had more pro-smoking attitudes than Chinese American adolescents. Male gender, having friends who smoked, and baseline smoking were associated with smoking susceptibility at follow-up. Those factors, U.S. birthplace, and the acceptance and psychosocial scales were associated with smoking. Smoking prevention efforts targeting Chinese and Vietnamese American adolescents should focus on gender, birthplace, peer smoking, and attitudes.
Staffing, planning, and control of information systems in charitable nonprofit organizations

Abstract Staffing, planning, and management control of information systems in the private not-for-profit (or nonprofit) sector are studied, based on a survey of symphony organizations in the United States and Canada. A conceptual model of information systems for charitable nonprofits is presented which emphasizes staffing, planning, and control. Empirical results for symphony orchestras reveal low IS funding, weaknesses in IS staffing, heavy dependence on outside expertise, low levels of IS training, inadequate IS planning and control, and moderate IS satisfaction. The model is tested empirically and found to be largely valid. A model modification is suggested in assessing the factor of IS satisfaction.
A caution on mixing conditions for random fields

Abstract For strictly stationary random fields, some obvious versions of the o-mixing and absolute regularity conditions turn out to be equivalent to versions of m -dependence.
A nonintegrable model in general relativity

The geodesic flow of a perturbation of the Schwarzschild metric is shown to possess a chaotic invariant set. The perturbed meric is a relativistic analogue of Hill's problem in classical celestial mechanics in that is models the effects of a distant third body.
SANS studies of concentrated protein solutions. I. Bovine serum albumin

Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) was used to examine concentrated bovine serum albumin solutions of up to 20% protein w/v. At higher protein concentrations, scattering data show distinct features that can be ascribed to strong intermolecular interactions. Differential scattering cross-sections are fitted to a theoretical model of interparticle potential consisting of a hard core plus an exponentially decaying “tail.” For moderate ionic strength (0.03M K Acetate, pH 5.9), the intermolecular interaction agrees with the double-layer repulsive part of the well-known DLVO (Derjaguin, Landau, Verwey, Overbeek) theory for interacting colloidal particles. We thus demonstrate that it is possible to determine size parameters and the surface charge of protein molecules in dense solutions. At high salt concentrations (≥0.2M NaCl) data can be fitted by the same potential model, although interpretation in terms of DLVO theory is not possible. Even in this case, however, “effective” molecular size and potential parameters can be determined.
ACHIEVING REDUCED CYCLE TIMES IN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING VIA EFFECTIVE CONTROL OF THE P-K EQUATION FACTORS

In the current environment of flash semiconductor market, competitive cycle times are the key to success. Cycle Time (CT) reduction can be achieved by process time elimination and/or equipment performance improvement, but also by optimizing on the WIP management policy. In this paper, we discuss how significant CT reductions are attained via the effective change of parameter values of the governing WIP management policy of a semiconductor factory. A full factorial Design of Experiments (DOE) was performed, and several parameters were examined. The impact on the coefficient of variability of departure rate (CDR) and CT was evaluated. Results have clearly shown that by changing the values of these parameters, significant cycle time reductions can be achieved.
On the Ginzburg-Landau laser mode-locking model with fifth-order saturable absorber term

Abstract A modified equation describing the laser field in a passively mode-locked laser is presented. This model includes a fast saturable absorber which is bleached only over a limited intensity-range, as in an additive pulse mode-locked (APM) laser. Dynamic stability is analyzed in the near-soliton limit, and it is shown that the fifth-order saturable absorber term plays a key role in stabilization. The model is compatible with the experimental observation of per-pass nonlinear phase shifts on the order of π/2 radians in APM lasers. Finally, approximate and exact solutions are obtained.
Structural and electronic model of negative electron affinity on the Si/Cs/O surface

Abstract Structural and electronic models are proposed which correlate Goldstein's LEED, Auger, photo-emission, plasmon, and desorption data for negative electron affinity (NEA) on Si(100) surfaces. In the structural model, the surface Si atoms group into adjacent rows of surface “pedestals” and surface “caves”. Their density is 3.4 × 10 14 cm −2 each, as inferred from the LEED 2 × 2 reconstruction pattern and other data. Adsorbed Cs resides in fourfold coordination with Si atop the pedestals. Adsorbed oxygen is completely submerged in the caves of aperture 2.98A to give a Cs-O dipole length of 2.9A. Similar structural arguments show why Cs must be adsorbed before O 2 , and why Si(111) does not exhibit NEA. In the electronic model, the surface dielectric constant, 5.3. obtained from the surface plasmon energy, 7 eV, is used to compute the dipole length from the final work function, 0.9 eV. It is 2.8A in excellent agreement with the dipole length computed from the above structural model. Some properties of the “induced” surface states in the presence of Cs and O are also described.
AnnAGNPS Model Application for Nitrogen Loading Assessment for the Future Midwest Landscape Study

The Future Midwest Landscape (FML) project is part of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s new Ecosystem Services Research Program, undertaken to examine the variety of ways in which landscapes that include crop lands, conservation areas, wetlands, lakes, and streams affect human well-being. The goal of the FML project is to quantify current and future ecosystem services across the region and to examine changes expected to occur as a result of the growing demand for biofuels. This study is one of several pilots taking place under the umbrella of the FML research project. In this study, the USDA Annualized Agricultural Non-Point Source Pollution (AnnAGNPS) model was applied to the East Fork Kaskaskia River watershed (289.3 km2) located in the Kaskaskia River Basin within the Upper Mississippi River Basin in Illinois. The effect of different spatial resolutions on model performance was investigated by comparing the observed runoff with the AnnAGNPS simulated results. Alternative future scenarios such as meeting future biofuel target were also simulated and analyzed. All delineations of the study area (coarser to finer) produced satisfactory results in simulating monthly and annual runoff. However, the size of the delineation does impact the simulation results. Finer delineations better represented the actual landscape and captured small critical areas that would be homogenized in coarser delineation. Those small critical areas are important to target to achieve maximum environment benefit. Simulations of alternative future scenarios showed that as corn production increases to meet future biofuel needs, total nitrogen loss increases. For this watershed, total N loss would be more than doubled if converting all corn/soybean rotation (15,871.2 ha) to continuous corn comparing with the base year total N loss which is 11.2 kg/ha. Conservation practices are needed to reduce total nitrogen loss from the watershed. This study provides an important foundation for the larger FML region modeling effort by addressing challenging FML landscape modeling issues such as model selection, need for further model development, and spatial resolution.
A cursory investigation of intermediate phases in the Systems Ti-Zn, Ti-Hg, Zr-Zn, Zr-Cd, and Zr-Hg by X-ray powder diffraction methods

Intermediate phases in the binary metal alloy systems Ti-Zn, Ti-Hg, Zr-Zn, Zr-Cd, and Zr-Hg have been investigated by X-ray powder diffraction methods. Gamma-Ti3Hg and Zr3Hg have a beta tungsten structure; TiHg and ZrHg are analogous to ordered AuCu (L 10 type); delta-Ti3Hg and ZrHg3 are isomorphous with ordered AuCu3 (L 12 type); ZrZn2 is face-centered cubic (C 15 type); TiZn2 crystallizes in a C 14 type structure; and Zr(1-x)Cd(x) occurs in cubic and tetragonal modifications in which a random distribution of atoms exists. Additional information for the intermediate phase TiZn3 is presented.
Dynamic selection of tile sizes

Tiling is a key program transformation to achieve effective data reuse. But the performance of tiled programs can vary considerably with different tile sizes. Hence the selection of good tile sizes is crucial. Although there has been considerable research on analytical models for selecting tile sizes, they have not been shown to be effective in finding optimal tile sizes across a range of programs and target architectures. Auto-tuning is a viable alternative that is often used in practice, and involves the execution of different combinations of tile sizes in a systematic fashion to find the best ones. But this is sometimes infeasible — for instance when the program is to be run on unknown platforms (e.g., cloud environments). We propose a novel approach for generating code to enable dynamic tile size selection, based on monitoring the performance of a few loop iterations. The selection operates at run time on the “production” run, without any a priori knowledge of the execution environment. We discuss the theory and implementation of a parametric tiled code generator that enables run-time tile size tuning and describe a search strategy to determine effective tile sizes. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach.
Raman and surface-enhanced Raman spectra of chrysin, apigenin and luteolin

Abstract The FT-Raman and surface-enhanced Raman (SER) spectra of three flavonoids, namely chrysin, apigenin and luteolin, have been obtained. The SERS spectra were obtained on citrate reduced Ag colloids. Assignments of the experimentally obtained normal vibrational modes were aided by density functional theory (DFT) calculations using the B3LYP functional and the 6-31+G* basis set. Excellent fits were obtained for the observed spectra with little or no scaling. The most intense lines in the three flavonoids SERS spectra are those in the C O stretching region and around 1250 cm−1. The first ones are often weakened by proximity of the metal surface, whereas the latter are not affected by the Ag. On the other hand, the lines at lower wavenumbers, assigned to in-plane ring deformation, are strongly enhanced by the surface, indicating a perpendicular orientation of the flavonoids on the Ag surface. The spectra of the flavonoids are compared, and a case study of application to detect weld, a mixture of apigenin and luteolin, in a textile is presented.
Teacher-Rated Family Involvement and Children's Social and Academic Outcomes in Kindergarten.

This study examines the relation between teachers' report of family involvement in school and children's social and academic competencies during kindergarten, after accounting for the contribution of socioeconomic status and early maternal sensitivity. Teachers reported on the family involvement for 223 children. Two dimensions of family involvement with school were measured: families' attitudes toward schools and families' activities with schools. Children's social and academic competence was assessed through classroom observations and teachers' reports. Results describe the contribution of socioeconomic status and maternal sensitivity in predicting some aspects of kindergarten competence, and the association of family involvement and child competence after accounting for these covariates. Findings suggest that teachers' reports of family attitudes are a more consistent predictor of outcomes than teachers' reports of family involvement activities. These findings support the position that families and sch...
Capturing and clustering judges' policies

Abstract Judgment analysis has been used as a method for grouping judges according to the homogeneity of their regression equations. It is demonstrated that (a) contrary to the accepted claim, judgment analysis may fail to generate an optimal grouping, and (b) this problem is, in fact, a special case of a wellknown clustering problem for which a variety of cluster analysis techniques are available.
System identification for chaotic integrate-and-fire dynamics

We discuss applications of the fact that dynamical state information can be reconstructed from a series of interspike interval (ISI) measurements. This system analysis allows system identification and prediction from spike train history. Secondly, using this reconstruction, unstable periodic trajectories of the underlying system can be controlled by small changes in a system parameter. The underlying assumption is an integrate-and-fire model coupling the dynamical system to the observable spike train.
Female choice in nonhuman primates

As outlined by Darwin, sexual selection is composed of two parts, within-sex competition for mates, and mate choice. The fact that males compete for fertile females has been well established. More equivocal is the notion that females have preferences for certain males, and that those preferences have an evolutionary effect (“female choice”). We now have an evolutionary framework and sophisticated mathematical models to evaluate female choice. A review of the literature on primate species reveals that 20 species have exhibited some sort of preference. Females most often choose males based on familiarity, novelty, or status. But there is no evidence that selection for particular males affects conception or fitness, or male characteristics. Female sexual assertiveness is not necessarily female choice. … it is improbable that the unions of quadrupeds in a state of nature should be left to mere chance. It is much more probable that the females are allured or excited by particular males, who possess certain characters in a higher degree than other males: but what these characters are, we can seldom or never discover with certainty.—C. Darwin, 1871 Estrous females cannot be considered as passive resources like water and peanuts.—L. Fedigan, 1983 If it's not forced copulation, is it female choice?—D. Winkler, 1988.
Platelet Activation and Inhibition in Unstable Coronary Syndromes

Platelet activation occurs episodically in unstable angina, as reflected by enhanced thromboxane metabolite excretion, and most episodes can be suppressed by low-dose aspirin. Biochemical evidence of platelet activation and electrocardiographic evidence of myocardial ischemia are often temporally dissociated, thus suggesting the likely involvement of different triggers. Aspirin is effective in reducing the short-term and long-term risks of myocardial infarction and death by 40-60%, in a dose-independent fashion consistent with the saturability of platelet cyclo-oxygenase inhibition at low doses. Suppression of platelet thromboxane synthesis by aspirin and the blockade of platelet adenosine diphosphate receptors by ticlopidine or clopidogrel appear to have a similar impact on limiting the risk of a thrombotic outcome of plaque fissuring, thereby suggesting combined strategies for future studies.
Thermoluminescence constraints on the metamorphic, shock, and brecciation history of basaltic meteorites

The metamorphic, shock, and brecciation history of 18 eucrites, 13 howardites, 6 diogenites, and 15 mesosiderites is investigated via induced thermoluminescence measurements performed on them. The eucrites show a 15-fold range of TL sensitivities, which correlate with petrographic indicators of metamorphic intensity. The temperature of the dominant TL peak observed for basaltic meteorites, and experiments in which four eucrites with diverse petrographic properties were annealed at various temperatures in the laboratory, suggests that the metamorphic equilibration temperatures for most basaltic meteorites were not more than 800 C. Assuming this temperature was typical of conditions during metamorphism, then burial depths for type-above-5 eucrites were greater than 350 m and less than 50 m for type-2 eucrites. Since TL peak temperatures are related to the degree of disorder in the Al, Si chain in feldspar, the present data provide independent evidence for very slow cooling rates for mesosiderites and for the slower cooling rates for some cumulate eucrites relative to equilibrated noncumulate eucrites.
Inclusion of solid particles in bacterial cellulose

Depending upon the strain and the method of cultivation, bacterial cellulose can be reticulated filaments, pellets, or a dense, tough gel called a pellicle. The pellicular form is commonly made by surface culture, but a rotating disk bioreactor is more efficient and reduces the time of a run to about 3.5 days instead of the usual 12-20 days. Particles added to the medium as the gel is forming are trapped to form a new class of composite materials. Particles enter the films that are forming on the disks at rates depending on the size and geometry of the particle, as well as the rotational speed and concentration of the suspension.
Vessel size measurements in angiograms: a comparison of techniques.

As interventional procedures become more complicated, the need for accurate quantitative vascular information increases. In response to this need, many commercial vendors provide techniques for measurement of vessel sizes, usually based on derivative techniques. In this study, we investigate the accuracy of several techniques used in the measurement of vessel size. Simulated images of vessels having circular cross sections were generated and convolved with various focal spot distributions taking into account the magnification. These vessel images were then convolved with Gaussian image detector line spread functions (LSFs). Additionally, images of a phantom containing vessels with a range of diameters were acquired for the 4.5″, 6″, 9″, and 12″ modes of an image intensifier–TV (II–TV) system. Vessel sizes in the images were determined using a first-derivative technique, a second-derivative technique, a linear combination of these two measured sizes, a thresholding technique, a densitometric technique, and a model-based technique. For the same focal spot size, the shape of the focal spot distribution does not affect measured vessel sizes except at large magnifications. For vessels with diameters larger than the full-width-at-half-maximum (FWHM) of the LSF, accurate vessel sizes (errors ∼0.1 mm) could be obtained by using an average of sizes determined by the first and second derivatives. For vessels with diameters smaller than the FWHM of the LSF, the densitometric and model-based techniques can provide accurate vessel sizes when these techniques are properly calibrated.
More Than Moore's Law: Nanofabrics and Architectures

In the nanoelectronics era with ever smaller devices and higher densities, power dissipation and fault tolerance are the two most critical issues to be resolved. The fabrication of reliable and less power dissipating nanosystems requires new approaches to nanodevice integration, which makes Nano Architectonics one of the emerging research directions. This paper presents an example of recent progress of using carbon nanotubes as a nanofabric in working towards this objective. As an alternative route to the traditional electron-based circuitry, we also discuss the feasibility of spin-based nanofabrics consisting of spin-based memory elements united via spin wave buses. These approaches are most notably developed by the Focus Center Research Program (FCRP) -Center on Functional Engineered Nano Architectonics (FENA) and the Nanoelectronics Research Initiative (NRI) -Western Institute of Nanoelectronics (WIN).
Ablation of ventricular fibrillation and tachycardia

Catheter ablation therapy for ventricular tachycardia has evolved over the past 20 years to become the first-line therapy. This development has been facilitated by technology that has allowed better anatomic and electrophysiologic correlations. A better understanding of radiofrequency (RF) ablation has led to safer and more effective treatments, allowing it to become a potent diagnostic and therapeutic tool in clinical cardiac electrophysiology. As more knowledge is gained about the mechanisms of arrhythmias through RF ablations, and better mapping technology and more effective methods for energy delivery become available, catheter ablation will become relevant for an increasing number of arrhythmias. This article addresses advances and applications of RF ablation to the treatment of ventricular arrhythmias in a variety of heart diseases.
Preliminary characterization of material eluted from the roots of periodontally diseased teeth.

Eighteen periodontally diseased teeth and eleven normal teeth requiring surgical removal were each treated with one of four different solutions to elute potentially toxic material from their root surfaces. The solutions used were pyrogen-free water, phenol-water, trichloroacetic acid and citric acid. To define the composition of the eluted material, samples were analyzed for calcium, for ketodeoxyoctonic acid (KDO), a carbohydrate unique to Gram-negative bacteria, and for limulus lysate activity. Limulus-positive material was then analyzed for protein and nucleic acids and subjected to heat treatment, to the enzymes RNAse A and T1, and to lysozyme. It was found that TCA and citric acid removed more calcium and more toxic material from the root surface and subsurface than did either water or phenol-water. The material extracted from 13 of the 18 diseased roots was limulus-positive. Four of the limulus-positive samples were also KDO-positive, strongly indicating the presence of endotoxin in these samples. Neither these nor any of the other limulus-positive responses were reversed or significantly reduced by exposure of samples to heat, to RNAse A and T1, or to lysozyme. In addition, limulus-positive responses were unrelated to the amounts of protein and nucleic acids in the extracted material. When considered together, these preliminary characterizations indicate the presence of endotoxin in the material eluted from periodontally diseased teeth.
Utilization Of Fractional Brownian Motion In Constrained Least-Squares Restoration Of Medical Images

Constrained least-squares techniques have been used to produce a well known class of image restoration algorithms. These techniques typically involve minimizing a linear operator on a vector representation of an image, subject to a constraint. For cases where an equality constraint is appropriate the method of Lagrange multipliers can be used to produce a restored image. In this work a fractal textural model,fractional Brownian motion, is used to represent images of interest. Using a variance fractal dimension estimator a non-linear operator, that represents the squared difference between the fractal dimension of the restored image and an a priori value is minimized, subject to the constraint that the norm of the residual between the restored image and available measurement equal the norm of the additive noise.
Diagnosis & management of cytomegalovirus infections in the GI tract

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection of the GI tract is a common problem in patients immunosuppressed by HIV or organ transplantation. The esophagus and colon are the most common sites of involvement. Recent developments in diagnosis, such as immunohistochemical staining, shell vial assay and PCR, aid in early detection and predicting the prognosis of CMV disease in susceptible individuals. Although current drugs have limitations in terms of toxicity, drug interactions and resistance, newer drugs appear promising.
Synthesis of a dual contrast agent for ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging

A dual contrast agent that combines perfluorocarbon droplets and metal nanoparticles has been developed for combined ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging. Metal nanoparticles were incorporated in dodecafluoropentane (DDFP) droplets encapsulated in a bovine serum albumin (BSA) shell. To embed aqueous colloidal suspensions of metal nanoparticles in DDFP, a phase transfer of the plasmonic nanoparticles was completed in two different strategies, a single and a double ligand exchange of capping materials. Emulsion techniques were used to encapsulate phase transferred metal nanoparticles within the DDFP droplets. Spectrophotometry and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize and to confirm successful fabrication of the dual contrast agent.