cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
K-12 Engineering Outreach: Design Decisions, Rationales, and Applications

Even though engineering outreach to K-12 schools initially seemed to be a simple undertaking, it proved to require complex design solutions related to a variety of issues. The purpose of this design case is to tell the story of our National Science Foundation (NSF) supported engineering outreach project, that took place between the years of 2007-2013. The design problem of this project started with the issue of how to design the engineering instruction, what to provide within the K-12 instruction, how to conduct the outreach, and how to overcome physical limitations of school sites. This design case captures the design process, context, various designs of the computer-mediated learning platform, and the rationales for design iterations. We also describe how the design team, which included experts in instructional design, electrical engineering, and educational psychology, as well as carpenters, teachers, and graphic designers, worked together to accomplish an outreach project that reached over 3,600 K-12 students. In addition to the design processes, we also report the major findings from our evaluation studies of the intructional modules delivered to K-12 students, and how we used these results to iterate and refine our module designs.
High Resolution Magnetic Tweezers to Probe Single Molecule Dynamics

The magnetic tweezer is a single molecule manipulation instrument ideally suited to measuring biophysical systems at a constant applied force. The development of a magnetic tweezers with a high-speed camera and GPU-accelerated particle tracking has allowed for the measurement of molecular events at the millisecond time scale. However, as the spatial resolution of the instrument is improved, previously neglected sources of noise start to become limiting, such as: mechanical stability of the sample stage, and coherent light artifacts such as speckle. Here, we isolate the various sources of noise in an attempt to determine the fundamental limit to magnetic tweezer resolution. We use a state-of-the-art high spatial and temporal resolution magnetic tweezer to measure the dynamics of model systems such as DNA hairpins.
The role of hemiparasitic plants: influencing tallgrass prairie quality, diversity, and structure

Wood betony, Orobanchaceae (Pedicularis canadensis) and bastard toadflax, Santalaceae (Comandra umbellata) are two root-hemiparasitic plant species found in tallgrass prairie communities. Natural resource managers are interested in utilizing these species as “pseudograzers” in grasslands to reduce competitively dominant grasses and thereby increase ecological diversity and quality in prairie restorations and urban plantings. We performed an observational field study at 5 tallgrass prairie sites to investigate the association of hemiparasite abundance with metrics of phylogenetic and ecological diversity, as well as floristic quality. Although no reduction in C4 grasses was detected, there was a significant association between hemiparasite abundance and increased floristic quality at all 5 sites. Hemiparasite abundance and species richness were positively correlated at one restoration site. In a greenhouse mesocosm experiment, we investigated response to parasitism by P. canadensis in 6 species representing different plant functional groups of the tallgrass prairie. The annual legume partridge pea, Fabaceae (Chamaecrista fasciculata) had the greatest significant dry biomass reduction among 6 host species, but the C4 grass big bluestem, Poaceae (Andropogon gerardii) had significantly greater aboveground biomass when grown with the hemiparasite. Overall, host species biomass as a total community was significantly reduced in mesocosms, consistent with other investigations that demonstrate influence on community structure by hemiparasitic plant species. Although hemiparasites were not acting as pseudograzers, they have the potential to influence community structure in grassland restorations and remnants.
An analytical approach for solving type-1 and type-2 fully fuzzy linear systems of equations

A general analytical method for solving fully fuzzy linear system (FFLSE) of equations using interval analysis and LU decomposition is proposed in this study. Both type-1 and interval type-2 fuzzy coefficients are discussed. Alpha level sets (alpha cuts) are used to reduce a FFLSE into a number of interval systems, which are then solved systematically using LU decomposition and forward-backward substitution. To carry out forward-backward substitution on interval equations, conditions for the existence and uniqueness of interval solutions are derived and approximations are used for cases when an interval solution does not exist. The proposed method is then extended to solve interval type-2 fuzzy system of equations.
Penetrating keratoplasty for herpes simplex keratitis and keratoconus. Allograft rejection and survival.

Abstract To determine the relationship between corneal allograft rejection and failure, we studied patients who underwent penetrating keratoplasty for herpes simplex keratitis (n = 82) and keratoconus (n = 345), two frequent indications for keratoplasty in young patients, using survival analysis. For first grafts for herpes, the probability of survival was significantly less than it was for keratoconus ( P P >0.05). However, the incidence of rejection episodes in regrafts for herpes was significantly greater than in keratoconus (23.7 versus 17%, P P
Density of available striatal dopamine receptors predicts trait impulsiveness during performance of an attention-demanding task

Several studies have demonstrated a relationship between the density of available striatal D2/D3 receptors and trait impulsiveness. However, in each case, the availability of dopamine receptors was...
Wikipedia and the Myth of Universality

Introduction I write from the U.S., where the removal of "women writers" from the more general and inclusive "writers" category in 2013 drew national ire and debate (Filipacchi, 2013). The episode heightened visibility of the fact that Wikipedia entries are not only predominantly created and edited by men, but that the categories that organize the content are also gendered and hierarchical. Indeed, classification is arguably at the root of some of the most critical questions regarding Wikipedia's functions and limitations. The construction of categories for access to knowledge and information is inherently paradoxical-it is by way of categories that we organize and access information in any information retrieval system. But categories are by definition limiting and exclusionary, and they operate on the basis of membership and nonmembership: an inside and an outside. Membership and the terms by which we name those categories-especially with regard to humans and human subjectivities-are almost always political and contested.
Functional semiconducting silicon nanowires for cellular binding and internalization

Abstract: This chapter discusses the in vivo imaging and in vitro cellular interaction of functionalized silicon nanowires (SiNW) studied using the non-linear optical (NLO) signals of SiNW. The chapter first discusses the motivation for studying the cellular interactions of SiNW in a quest for rational design in nanomedicine and introduces the methodology of NLO imaging and surface functionalization used in the studies. The main focus of the chapter is to apply functional SiNW to in vivo imaging and in vitro studies of cellular binding and internalization.
Three Visual Cluster Validity Methods for Object and Relational Data.

This talk is about three visual cluster validity methods developed by the authors that can be used for both object and relational data sets. The original method VAT (visual assessment of clustering tendency) works nicely for dissimilarity data up to about n = 5000 objects, but VAT quickly bumps up against storage and resolution limits, and is of limited utility for large data sets. The second method in the family is sVAT (scalable VAT). This algorithm generates a sample taken from the rows (or columns) of very large, square, relational data, and builds a VAT image on the sample. sVAT is shown to be exact when the data contain compact, separated clusters in the sense of Dunn, and sVAT can be used with arbitrarily large data sets. The third method is called coVAT. This method can be used to estimate the number of clusters in objects represented by the rows and columns of a rectangular dissimilarity matrix, as well as the number of mixed and unmixed clusters in the union of the row and column objects. We show examples of using coVAT to detect the number of clusters in the four canonical clustering problems that are present in rectangular relational data. About the speaker: Jim Bezdek received the BSCE from the U. of Nevada (Reno) in 1969, and the Ph.D. in Applied Math from Cornell in 1973. He is currently the Nystul Professor of Computer Science at the University of West Florida. His previous experience includes the directorship of Boeing's HTC Inf. Proc. Lab, and a term as head of Computer Science at the University of South Carolina. Jim's interests include woodworking, optimization, motorcycles, pattern recognition, fishing, vision and image processing, skiing, computational neural networks, blues music, medical applications and cigars. Jim is the founding editor of the Int'l. Jo. Approximate Reasoning and the IEEE Transactions on Fuzzy Systems. He has been a distinguished lecturer for the IEEE and ACM, is an IEEE fellow, and was president of the IEEE Neural Networks Council in 1997-1998. Current research topics: multiple prototype classifier designs, mixed fuzzy-possibilistic c-means clustering models, rule extraction with clustering, generalized nearest prototype classifier networks, fusion of heterogeneous fuzzy data, target recognition with LADAR data, mammographic image analysis, topics in cluster validity, robotic control models, fuzzy learning vector quantization, clustering with genetic algorithms, and acceleration of image processing algorithms. EUSFLAT LFA 2005
Dynamics of singlet fission and electron injection in self-assembled acene monolayers on titanium dioxide

We employ a combination of linear spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and transient absorption spectroscopy to characterize the interplay between electron transfer and singlet fission dynamics in polyacene-based dyes attached to nanostructured TiO2. For triisopropyl silylethynyl (TIPS)-pentacene, we find that the singlet fission time constant increases to 6.5 ps on a nanostructured TiO2 surface relative to a thin film time constant of 150 fs, and that triplets do not dissociate after they are formed. In contrast, TIPS-tetracene singlets quickly dissociate in 2 ps at the molecule/TiO2 interface, and this dissociation outcompetes the relatively slow singlet fission process. The addition of an alumina layer slows down electron injection, allowing the formation of triplets from singlet fission in 40 ps. However, the triplets do not inject electrons, which is likely due to a lack of sufficient driving force for triplet dissociation. These results point to the critical balance required between efficient singlet fission and appropriate energetics for interfacial charge transfer.
Intestinal Protozoa: Please Pass the Stool

Among developed countries of the West, towards the end of the twentieth century, there was a widespread belief that unlike countries in the “Third World” where the drinking water was generally contaminated and the public health infrastructure was suspect, you could always rely on the fact that it was safe to drink water from the tap here. I remember that as one who grew up in the Third World (a common designation for Malaysia before the era of politically correct euphemisms) I was shocked to see my Australian college room-mate drink straight from the tap during my freshman undergraduate year in 1965 at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra. In my childhood, Malaysians were taught to only drink boiled water as a general rule and the idea of drinking “raw” water straight from the tap was to invite the risk of tummy upsets and worse. When I had mentioned this to my fellow students at ANU, some of the less sensitive Aussies would say that “only the wogs have to do that”—that is, only the great unwashed in backward countries have to boil their water. This attitude was still prevalent in the 1960s when the last vestiges of the White Australia policy had yet to be rescinded and Arthur Calwell, who had previously declared in parliament when he was Immigration Minister, that “two Wongs do not make a White” was then leader of the Australian Labor Party.
Relationships between Linear Speed and Lower-Body Power with Change-of-Direction Speed in National Collegiate Athletic Association Divisions I and II Women Soccer Athletes

This study investigated relationships that linear speed and lower-body power have on change-of-direction (COD) speed in collegiate women soccer players. Data from two Division I (n = 39) and one Division II (n = 18) schools were analyzed. Subjects were assessed in: power (vertical jump (VJ); jump height, peak anaerobic power measured in watts (PAPw), power-to-body mass ratio (P:BM); linear speed (10-m sprint); and COD speed (modified T-test (MTT), 505, COD deficit). Independent samples T-tests derived significant between-group differences, with effect sizes (d) calculated. Pearson’s correlations determined relationships between COD speed, linear speed, and power, with regression equations calculated. Division I players demonstrated superior 505, COD deficit, VJ height, PAPw, and P:BM (d = 1.09–2.21). Division II players were faster in the MTT (d = 1.51). For all players, the 505 correlated with the 10-m sprint (r = 0.39–0.53) and VJ height (r = −0.65–0.66), while the COD deficit related to the 10-m sprint (r = −0.77–0.82). The regression data supported these results. Division I players were superior in the 505 and COD deficit, and expressed their power in the 180° 505 task. Division II players should enhance lower-body power and the ability to perform 180° direction changes.
Identifying Faculty Perceptions of Awareness and Preparedness Relating to ADA Compliance at a Small, Private College in NE PA.

This paper explores post-secondary faculty perceptions of awareness and preparedness relating to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Institutions of higher education are businesses. The largest threat to sustained viability for many businesses is litigation. Business-related litigation is often the result of non-employment discrimination or torts (violation of civil rights). Lack of knowledge (awareness and preparedness) is usually not a sufficient reason for defendants in business-related litigation. The number of college students reporting learning-related disabilities is growing. About 2.2 million students enrolled in higher education institutions have a documented disability (National Center for Education Statistics, 2016). Disability related litigation is a trending concern for institutions of higher education. Are post-secondary faculty ‘aware’ and ‘prepared’ to make the necessary accommodations for students with qualified learning disabilities in classrooms? ADA awareness is defined as cognizance relating to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. ADA preparedness is defined as readiness and ability to follow obligations relating to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. A moderate, positive correlation was discovered between the two variables, indicating the more awareness one has of ADA laws and requirements, the more prepared one is in dealing with accommodations for those with learning disabilities. Research indicates a need for updated and current training in the area of ADA awareness and preparedness of post-secondary faculty.
DETECTION AND GENERATION OF ELECTRIC SIGNALS | Generation of Electric Signals

Electric fishes generate electrical signals of various strengths and durations for defense, aggression, communication, and electrolocation. The electric organs are located in the tail and other parts of the body and generate electricity using electrically excitable cells called electrocytes. The electrocytes are driven by groups of neurons in the brain called the pacemaker or command nuclei and they produce the basic rhythms of electric organ discharges. Higher brain centers further modify the basic rhythms to generate different electrical behaviors.
Synthesis and initial characterization of γ-L-glutamyl-L-thiothreonyl-glycine and γ-L-glutamyl-L-allo-thiothreonylglycine as steric probes of the active site of glyoxalase I

The diastereomeric GSH derivatives gamma-L-Glu-L-allo-thioThr-Gly (6) and gamma-L-Glu-L-thioThr-Gly (6a) have been synthesized as specific probes of the steric environment near the cysteinyl residue of enzyme bound glutathionyl substrates. Experiments with glyoxalase I indicate that while 6a-methylglyoxal thiohemiacetal is a substrate for the enzyme, 6-methylglyoxal thiohemiacetal forms a tight-binding abortive complex with the active site (Ki congruent to 100 microM). Apparently, the small size of the cysteinyl C beta-Hs proton of the normal GSH-methylglyoxal thiohemiacetal substrate for glyoxalase I is a strict requirement for productive substrate binding. These compounds may provide a novel approach to the inhibition of GSH-dependent enzymes.
EVALUATION OF INTRATHORACIC RESPONSE USING HIGH-SPEED CINERADIOGRAPHY

Abstract - New Zealand white rabbit * thoraxes were impacted by a dropped accelerometer-instrumented, 1.15 kg mass from a height of 2.44 meters. A high-speed x-ray cinematographic system developed at HSRI recorded impact events on 16 mm motion picture film for purposes of 1) observing internal organ motions, and 2) evaluating this method for relating such observations to injury mechanisms. Velocity and force data were obtained from the instrumented impacting mass. High-speed cineradiographs at approximately 1000 fps showed thoracic skeletal deformation and heart, diaphragm, and liver displacements. No radiopaque contrast medium was used in this preliminary investigation. Post-impact autopsy revealed rib fractures, localized hemorrhaging, and aortic transection. On the basis of films obtained, this method has potential for the study of injury mechanism.
Development and Evaluation of Mental Health Interventions for Common Mental Disorders in Post-conflict Settings

This chapter explores the development and evaluation of mental health interventions for common mental disorders (CMDs) during the prolonged post-conflict phase. The chapter considers the selection of interventions to deal with the important combination of mental disorders typically common during this time and serious enough to affect functioning. These disorders are depression, anxiety, PTSD and/or substance abuse which are often co-morbid. Adaptation of interventions developed in one culture to another is also discussed as a prolonged and ongoing process during the pretraining, training, and implementation phases. The chapter concludes with discussion of program evaluation. Evaluation of effectiveness of mental health interventions refers primarily to impact on symptoms and functioning but also includes effects on stigma and discrimination, costs of receiving the intervention, and mortality. Other areas of program evaluation are also described – fidelity, access, uptake, and compliance.
Enabling Semantics in oneM2M Service Delivery Platform

With the burgeoning of Edge computing, data from the Internet of Things (IoT) and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) systems are shared and consumed at the edge of the network. How to understand and leverage the data from other systems is a crucial challenge for information exchange and communication among IoT/M2M. Semantic paved the road for the knowledge-driven IoT/M2M systems. Context awareness becomes possible with the help of semantic information. In this paper, we proposed the methods of support semantic service in a sophisticated IoT/M2M system with reasonable overhead. Moreover, we also discussed the approaches to support a secure mechanism such as access control directly within the semantic information to boost the performance of the system. Our experiment shows that the proposed method could effectively and securely provide semantic service to the IoT/M2M system.
A Study on Elderly Individuals’ Attitude Towards ICTs

Due to increasing life expectancy, there has been an unprecedented increase in the population of elderly individuals (age 55 and above). Studies have revealed that the lifestyle of such elderly individuals has changed with the advent of information and communication technologies (ICTs). Though the use of ICTs by elderly individuals has elevated and it is widely perceived that elderly individuals have various potential benefits by the use of ICTs, they face barriers and challenges while adopting to newer technology. There is a difference in the need and ability of elderly individuals in the context of technology. Studies have revealed that elderly individuals have been overlooked during the development of products or services due to focus on younger adults as the main demography. This shift in demography has created a need to study the major factors that affect the usage and adoption of technology by elderly individuals which might help while designing technology and services for elderly. A modified questionnaire was administered on both the age groups: young-old (55–65 age) and old-old (65–75 age) (Age groups in american society and the rise of the young-old. Ann Am 315 Acad Polit Soc Sci 415(1):187–198, 1974, [1]). The main objective of the study was to identify the factors that affect the use of ICTs by older adults and the barriers they face while adopting to technology.
Race to Exascale

Whether called leadership computing, flagship computing, or just plain exascale, over the next few years, governments around the world are planning to spend over 10 billion dollars on a handful of new computer systems that will strive to reach an exascale level of performance. These systems and projects reflect the widespread and expanding recognition that almost all science and engineering endeavors now are intrinsically reliant on computing power not just for modeling and simulation but for data analysis, big data, and machine learning. Scientists and engineers consider computers as “universal instruments” of insight.
l-Type amino acid transporter 1 activity of 1,2,3-triazolyl analogs of l-histidine and l-tryptophan.

Abstract A series of 1,2,3-triazole analogs of the amino acids l -histidine and l -tryptophan were modeled, synthesized and tested for l -type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1; SLC7A5) activity to guide the design of amino acid-drug conjugates (prodrugs). These triazoles were conveniently prepared by the highly convergent Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (Click Chemistry). Despite comparable predicted binding modes, triazoles generally demonstrated reduced cell uptake and LAT1 binding potency relative to their natural amino acid counterparts. The structure-activity relationship (SAR) data for these triazoles has important ramifications for treating cancer and brain disorders using amino acid prodrugs or LAT1 inhibitors.
Enabling Effective Transparency: Towards User-Centric Intelligent Systems

Much of the current research in transparency and explainability is highly technical and focuses on how to derive explanations from models and algorithms. Less thought is being given to how users actually want to receive transparency and explanations from intelligent systems. My work tackles transparency and explainability from a user-centric perspective. I examine why transparency is desirable by showing that users may be susceptible to deception from intelligent systems. I demonstrate when users want transparency. Finally, my work begins to uncover how users want transparency conveyed. This body of work intends to create a path for designing transparency that puts user needs first rather than creating transparency as a convenient afterthought of model selection.
Group Nearest Compact POI Set Queries in Road Networks

Identifying a set of points of interest (POIs) is an important problem that finds applications in Location-Based Services (LBS). In this paper, we study a new spatial keyword query motivated by the scenario where a group of users staying at different places wishes to find a compact set of POIs (such as a restaurant and two museums) that is close to all users. We define the problem of group nearest compact POI set (GNCS) query in road networks and show that this problem is NP-hard. To solve the problem, we design query processing algorithms including a first feasible result search algorithm based on the perspective of each individual user, and an exact algorithm with optimizations based on the heuristic of first minimizing the aggregate distance between the POI set and the user group. Extensive performance studies using two real datasets confirm the efficiency and accuracy of our proposed algorithms.
Novel Attacks against Contingency Analysis in Power Grids.

Contingency Analysis (CA) is a core component of the Energy Management System (EMS) in the power grid. The goal of CA is to operate the power system in a secure manner by analyzing the system subject to a contingency (e.g., the outage of a transmission line or a power generator) to determine the setpoints that will allow system operation without violation of constraints. The analysis in CA is conducted based on the output from State Estimation (SE), another core EMS module. However, it is also shown that an adversary can alter certain power measurements to corrupt the system states estimated by SE without being detected. Such a corrupted estimation can severely skew the results of the contingency analysis as it will provide a fake model to deal with. In this research, we formally model necessary interdependency relationships and systematically analyze these novel attacks on the contingency analysis. In particular, this research focuses on Security Constrained Optimal Power Flow (SCOPF) that finds out the optimal economic dispatches considering a single line failure (based on the $n - 1$ contingency analysis) and transmission line capacities. The proposed model is implemented and solved to find out potential threat vectors (i.e., a set of measurements to be altered) that can evade CA so that the system will face overloading situation on one or more transmission lines when some specific contingencies happen. We demonstrate our formal model on an IEEE 14 bus system-based case study and verify the results with a standard PowerWorld model. We further evaluate the model with respect to various attacks and grid characteristics.
Membranous nephropathy: diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring in the post-PLA2R era

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is an immune complex-mediated cause of the nephrotic syndrome that can occur in all age groups, from infants to the very elderly. However, nephrotic syndrome in children is more frequently caused by conditions such as minimal change disease or focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, and much less commonly by MN. While systemic conditions such as lupus or infections such as hepatitis B may more commonly be associated as secondary causes with MN in the younger population, primary or "idiopathic" MN has generally been considered a disease of adults. Autoantibodies both to the M-type phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) and to thrombospondin type-1 domain-containing 7A (THSD7A), initially described in adult MN, have now been identified in children and adolescents with MN and serve as a useful diagnostic and monitoring tool in this younger population as well. Whereas definitive therapy for secondary forms of MN should be targeted at the underlying cause, immunosuppressive therapy is often necessary for primary disease. Rituximab has been successfully used in the treatment of MN, and is likely effective in children with MN as well, although dosing in the pediatric population is not well established. This review highlights the new findings in adult and pediatric MN since last reviewed in this journal.
Optical Properties of InAs Quantum Dots/GaAs Waveguides for Ultra-fast Scintillators

Abstract InAs Quantum Dots (QDs) embedded in a GaAs matrix have unique scintillation properties, valuable for high-energy physics and medical applications. Temperature-dependent photoluminescence, waveguide attenuation and alpha particle response measurements were employed to analyze the optical properties of a 25 μm thick waveguiding scintillator. Optimizing the electrostatics of the QD layered structure with p-type modulation doping resulted in QD photoluminescence (PL) efficiency as high as 60% at room temperature. Analysis of attenuation of the QD waveguide showed surface scattering predominated over the first 2–3 mm of light propagation and low (~1 cm−1) self-absorption was more significant at longer distances, after the decay of high order modes (high angle light rays). Responses to 5.5 MeV alpha particles from the integrated photodiode on top of the QD scintillator/waveguide (QD/WG) show an extremely fast (300 ps) decay constant, and a 70 ps time resolution (limited by circuit noise and bandwidth) with a collection efficiency of 17,000 photons per 1 MeV of deposited energy.
SpeakOut, a Web App for Online Therapy and Web Counseling

When people suffer from issues like workplace stress, financial stress, marital stress, family stress, bullying, domestic violence, peer pressure, anxiety, relationship issues, career issues, parenting, loneliness, depression and others, they try to avoid it, either by saying life is just like this or by comparing their problems with others. Distracting themselves from the problems is a temporary solution which will give rise to permanent problems. The problem we attempt to solve through our web app is to find whom to share our issues. We propose to develop a web app for online therapy, also known as Web Counseling. Online Therapy, a solution where one can get trained listeners and professional therapists, with whom one can share problems or thoughts, and might be able to shift one’s focus from problems to solutions.
On the design of high performance HW accelerator through high-level synthesis scheduling approximations

High-level synthesis (HLS) takes as input a behavioral description (e.g. C/C++) and generates efficient hardware through three main steps: allocation, scheduling, and binding. The scheduling step, times the operations in the behavioral description by scheduling different portions of the code at unique clock steps (control steps). The code portions assigned to each clock step mainly depend on the target synthesis frequency and target technology. This work makes use of this to generate smaller and faster circuits by approximating the program portions scheduled in each clock step and by exploiting the slack between different scheduling step to further increase the performance/reduce the latency of the resultant circuit. In particular, each individual scheduling step is approximated given a maximum error boundary and a library of different approximation techniques. In order to further optimize the resultant circuit, different scheduling steps are merged based on the timing slack of different control step without violating the given timing constraint (target frequency). Experimental results from different domain-specific applications show that our method works well and is able to increase the throughput on average by 82% while at the same time reducing the area by 21% for a given maximum allowable error.
The Impact of Speech Recognition Testing on State Anxiety in Young, Middle-Age, and Older Adults

Purpose This study assessed state anxiety as a function of speech recognition testing using three clinical measures of speech in noise and one clinical measure of dichotic speech recognition. Method Thirty young adults, 30 middle-age adults, and 25 older adults participated. State anxiety was measured pre- and post-speech recognition testing using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Speech recognition was measured with the Revised Speech Perception in Noise Test, the Quick Speech-in-Noise Test, the Words-in-Noise Test, and the Dichotic Digits Test (DDT). Results Speech recognition performance was as expected: Older adults performed significantly poorer on all measures as compared to the young adults and significantly poorer on the Revised Speech Perception in Noise Test, the Quick Speech-in-Noise Test, and the Words-in-Noise Test as compared to the middle-age adults. On average, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scores increased posttesting, with the middle-age adults exhibiting significantly greater increases in state anxiety as compared to the young and older adults. Increases in state anxiety were significantly greater for the DDT relative to the speech-in-noise tests for the middle-age adults only. Poorer DDT recognition performance was associated with higher levels of state anxiety. Conclusions Increases in state anxiety were observed after speech-in-noise and dichotic listening testing for all groups, with significant increases seen for the young and middle-age adults. Although the exact mechanisms could not be determined, multiple factors likely influenced the observed increases in state anxiety, including task difficulty, individual proficiency, and age.
Of bastards, slaves, dogs and other things: discourses of bourgeois transgression and illegitimacy in two francophone sub-saharan novels

The emergence and rise to preeminence of the bourgeoisie on the African political, social, and economic scenes have been the stuff of many novels. One could even argue that the rise of the sub-Saharan novel (because it is inherently connected to the colonial project) is more or less concurrent with the birth and rise of this class. In this essay, I seek to analyze the discourse of bourgeois transgression and illegitimacy as exemplified in two novels: Ahmadou Kourouma’s Les soleils des independances (1968) and Francis Bebey’s Le ministre et le griot (1992). The two works focus on the ruling elite in the immediate postcolonial period. In both novels, albeit in varying degrees, the colonial school is presented as the main catalyst of the change that occasioned the transgression decried by the members of the erstwhile aristocratic nobility.
Expert nurse response to workforce recommendations made by the coronavirus commission for safety and quality in nursing homes.

COVID-19 has exposed the longstanding internal problems in nursing homes and the weak structures and policies that are meant to protect residents. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services convened the Coronavirus Commission for Safety and Quality in NHs in April, 2020 to address this situation by recommending steps to improve infection prevention and control, safety procedures, and the quality of life of residents in nursing homes. The authors of this paper respond to the Final Report of the Commission and put forth additional recommendations to federal policymakers for meaningful nursing home reform: 1) ensuring 24/7 registered nurse (RN) coverage and adequate compensation to maintain total staffing levels that are based on residents' care needs; 2) ensuring RNs have geriatric nursing and leadership competencies; 3) increasing efforts to recruit and retain the NH workforce, particularly RNs; and 4) supporting care delivery models that strengthen the role of the RN for quality resident-centered care.
Health Data in Fertility Care: An Ecological Perspective

Fertility tracking and technology are characterized by logging varied health-related data potentially associated with female fertility cycles. Such data are often seen as private and restricted to the individual level. We conducted an interview study with 21 people (16 in the U.S.) facing challenges to conceive and 5 U.S. healthcare providers specialized in infertility to analyze (in)fertility experiences with data. Our findings suggest that although fertility data are considered personal and private, they are embedded in larger ecological systems of use, influencing and being influenced by different stakeholders, institutional contexts, and sociocultural factors. Leveraging the Ecological Systems Theory, we analyze the relationships and factors shaping individuals’ fertility trajectories, discussing how the different layers influence the work individuals have to engage and the burden imposed on them through various social, institutional, and cultural boundaries. We propose an ecological perspective on fertility data practices and discuss opportunities to counter-influence broader environmental systems through data tracking.
Shimon Samet and the Gap in the Story

Niniejszy artykul analizuje teksty pamietnikarskie o zyciu mlodych Żydow w Żolkwi we wschodniej Galicji przed II wojną światową, ich dojrzewaniu oraz przemianach osobistych i politycznych, prowadzących ich do imigracji do Palestyny. Skupia uwage przede wszystkim na lukach w czesto fragmentarycznych tekstach autobiograficznych napisanych przez Szymona Sameta, pochodzącego z tego miasta, ktory zostal uznanym zawodowym dziennikarzem w Izraelu. Rekonstruuje brakujące elementy rodzinnej narracji o bracie Sameta i specyfice ośrodkow, w ktorych mlodzi ludzie przygotowywali sie do wyjazdu na początku lat 20. XX wieku. Artykul pokazuje, jak wazne dla interpretacji autobiografii i tekstow pamiątkowych moze byc wskazanie takich luk.
[Ni8(CNtBu)12][Cl]: A nickel isocyanide nanocluster with a folded nanosheet structure

The reaction of 1.75 equiv of tBuNC with Ni(1,5-COD)2, followed by crystallization from benzene/pentane, resulted in the isolation of [Ni8(CNtBu)12][Cl] (2) in low yields. Similarly, the reaction of Ni(1,5-COD)2 with 0.6 equiv of [Ni(CNtBu)4], followed by addition of 0.08 equiv of I2, resulted in the formation of [Ni8(CNtBu)12][I] (3), which could be isolated in 52% yield after work-up. Both 2 and 3 adopt folded nanosheet structures in the solid state, characterized by two symmetry-related planar Ni4 arrays, six terminally bound tBuNC ligands, and six tBuNC ligands that adopt bridging coordination modes. The metrical parameters of the six bridging tBuNC ligands suggest that they have been reduced to their [tBuNC]2− form. In contrast to the nanosheet structures observed for 2 and 3, gas phase Ni8 is predicted to feature a compact bisdisphenoid ground state structure. The strikingly different structural outcomes reveal the profound structural changes that can occur upon addition of ligands to bare metal clusters. Ultimately, the characterization of 2 and 3 will enable more accurate structural predictions of ligand-protected nanoclusters in the future.
Criticality Driven Fetch

Modern OoO cores achieve high levels of performance using large instruction windows. Scaling the window size improves performance by making visible more of the parallelism present in programs. However, this leads to an exponential increase in area and power. We specify Criticality Driven Fetch (CDF), a new execution paradigm that preferentially fetches, allocates, and executes instructions on the critical path of the program. By skipping over non-critical instructions, critical instructions in the ROB can span a sequential instruction window larger than the size of the ROB. This increases the amount of parallelism that can be extracted from critical instructions, thereby improving performance. In our implementation, CDF improves performance by (a) increasing the MLP for independent loads executing concurrently, (b) fetching critical path loads past hard-to-predict branches (by resolving them earlier), and (c) by initiating last level cache misses that cannot be parallelized earlier. Accelerating critical loads using CDF achieves a 6.1% IPC improvement over a baseline OoO core with prefetching. Compared to Precise Runahead, the prior state of the art work on accelerating last level cache misses on the core, we provide better performance and reduce memory traffic and energy consumption by 4.0% and 7.2% respectively.
Homophily, Close Friendship, and Life Satisfaction among Gay, Lesbian, Heterosexual, and Bisexual Men and Women.

Friends play important roles throughout our lives by providing expressive, instrumental, and companionate support. We examined sexual orientation, gender, and age differences in the number of friends people can rely on for expressive, instrumental, and companionate support. Additionally, we examined the extent to which people relied on same-gender versus cross-gender friends for these types of support. Participants (N = 25,185) completed a survey via a popular news website. Sexual orientation differences in number of same-gender and cross-gender friends were generally small or non-existent, and satisfaction with friends was equally important to overall life satisfaction for all groups. However, the extent to which people’s friendship patterns demonstrated gender-based homophily varied by sexual orientation, gender, and age. Young adult gay and bisexual men, and to some extent bisexual women and older bisexual men, did not conform to gendered expectations that people affiliate primarily with their own gender.
Impaired Delayed Responding

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (American Psychiatric Association, 1994) refers to children, adolescents, and adults who demonstrate a pattern of deficits in behavioral control and self-regulation comprising poor sustained attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity (Barkley, 1990). This pattern of behavior commonly arises during the preschool or early childhood years, is significantly inappropriate for the child’s developmental level, is relatively stable, and persists into adolescence in more than half of all cases diagnosed in childhood (Barkley, 1990; Barkley, Fischer, Edelbrock, & Smallish, 1990). As many as 30% to 60% of childhood cases may continue to have the disorder into their young adult years (Gittelman, Mannuzza, Shenker, & Bonagura, 1985; Weiss & Hechtman, 1986).
A Proteomic Approach to the Molecular Analysis of Kindling

Application of the newly developed tools of proteomics analysis to the brain is still at an early stage of development. Primary application of 2D gel electrophoresis coupled with mass spectrometry based protein identification has been primarily directed at analyzing whole brain proteomes. As has been recently reviewed,1 this has led to the identification of a number of the more abundant brain proteins but has yet to focus on the important functional sub-compartments of the neuron (e.g., the synapse) or to probe for potential changes in disease states. This, in part, reflects a major limitation of protein profiling: the inherent complexity of proteomes even of subcellular compartments. We have begun to establish 2D gel maps for rat hippocampal synaptosomes and sub-fractions (synaptosol, plasma membrane and vesicle fractions) in both the resting and depolarized state. In this chapter we demonstrate how this technique can be applied to the study of kindled epilepsy.
Herpes Simplex Virus and Human Cytomegalovirus Replication in WI-38 Cells II. An Ultrastructural Study of Viral Penetration

An electron microscope study was carried out on the early minutes of herpes simplex virus (HSV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) penetration into WI-38 cells. Both HSV and CMV entered cells either by fusion of the viral envelope with a limiting cell membrane, or via phagocytosis. Both fusion and phagocytosis occurred within 3 min after the initiation of penetration. After fusion, the naked capsids of CMV free in the cytoplasm became coated with a fine, fibrillar material. CMV capsids thus coated retained a well-defined and easily identifiable morphology until the eclipse of visible viral particles between 1 and 1.5 days postinfection. In contrast, naked HSV capsids free in the cytoplasm were never coated. Rather, within minutes after penetration, they assumed a rounded, less regular outline, and were no longer detectable by 90 to 120 min postinfection. The free naked capsids of both viruses appeared to migrate across the cytoplasm toward the nucleus and to become located near nuclear pores. Both HSV and CMV capsids reached the nucleus as early as 5 min after the initiation of penetration. No further interaction with the nucleus could be documented. Particles were also consistently identified in the Golgi region. Phagocytosed particles generally remained within phagosomes, where they appeared to be degraded. However, stages were identified in what is believed to be the escape of enveloped viruses from phagosomes into the cytoplasm via fusion of their envelope with the phagosomal membrane.
The Eurozone crisis: A near-perfect case of mismanagement

The Eurozone crisis occurred because the institutional setup was imperfect. The wrong concept of fiscal discipline, the inability of the ECB to act as lender of last resort, absence of a banking union, allowed some public debts to increase dangerously; the lack of comprehension of the crisis by political leaders led to contagion and a deep depression. Some of the institutional flaws have been dealt with, but partially so. Existing institutions have been unable to design timely and adequate policy responses. The Commission has limited itself to imposing pro-cyclical austerity policies. The “Community method” has given way to inter-governmentalism. The dramatic economic and social impact of the crisis has left a disastrous perception of Europe, with potentially momentous costs in the long run.
CHROMOSOME STUDIES OF HUMAN SPONTANEOUS ABORTIONS.

Abstract 1. 1. The chromosomes of 12 spontaneous and 8 therapeutic abortions were studied. 2. 2. The idiograms of all 6 therapeutic abortions for purely maternal indications were normal. The abnormal chromosomes of two conceptuses aborted for suspected fetal anomalies are described. 3. 3. In almost 60 per cent of all the spontaneously aborted conceptuses there was an abnormal karyotype. In six of seven blighted ovum pregnancies there were abnormal idiograms. The findings included polyploidy, autosomal trisomy, and sex chromosome aberrations.
A Protein That Stimulates Rat Liver Phenylalanine Hydroxylase

A protein has been found in partially purified preparations of sepiapterin reductase that stimulates highly purified rat liver phenylalanine hydroxylase. The stimulation is dependent on the structure of the pterin cofactor used; a large stimulation is observed with the naturally occurring cofactor, tetrahydrobiopterin, a slight one with 6-methyltetrahydropterin, and none with 6,7-dimethyltetrahydropterin. The extent of the stimulation is minimal at low and maximal at high hydroxylase concentrations. Kinetic data suggest that the stimulating protein influences a reversible association-dissociation of the hydroxylase.
Analysis of sites of persistent cancer at “second-look” laparotomy in patients with ovarian cancer

Abstract Forty-two patients with ovarian cancer underwent “second-look” laparotomy to determine disease status. Seventeen patients were free of disease; 15 demonstrated tumor regression, but microscopic (3) or macroscopic (12) cancer persisted; and 10 had progressive disease. A significantly increased correlation between positive biopsy sites at second look and sites of known initial residual cancer was noted (76.7% versus 42.3% total positive), particularly in patients with minute disease, at second look. This correlation increased (85.3% versus 64.8%) when both the initial tumor reduction and documentation of residual disease and the second-look procedure were performed by the same surgeon. No such difference was noted in patients with progressive disease. In no instance was disease found at new sites when sites of previous residual cancer were disease free. These results underscore the need for accurate documentation of residual tumor after initial tumor reduction in order to direct the biopsy pattern more accurately, particularly in patients with minute or microscopic disease at second look.