cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fog Computing for Real-Time Accident Identification and Related Congestion Control

This paper focuses on developing (i) a benchmark application for Real-Time traffic incidence identification and related traffic management, using Real-Time congestion-aware navigation of smart vehicles (Edge nodes) with video feeds, (ii) an image database for Deep Learning used for recognition and classification of traffic incidences such as accidents and congestions, (iii) the System Level Software (or Middleware) required for Distributed Computing in such a heterogeneous Real-Time constrained system with Rapid Mobility - today’s Internet-of-Everything (IoE), and (iv) a hardware prototype of the distributed computing and storage infrastructure. The video bandwidth requirement of 10-100 GigaBytes of data per minute per vehicular camera makes it a Big Data problem. With millions of smart vehicles projected to be deployed within the next 5 years, BigData from a single vehicle, multiplied with the large number of vehicles, presents a Big-Squared-Data computing space which will easily overwhelm any Cloud infrastructure with its Real-Time or near Real-Time demands. Hence the need for a Fog tier between the Edge nodes and the Cloud to bring distributed computation (servers) and storage closer to the Edge nodes. Such a Fog consists of multiple Fog instances, each one of which services cells or Virtual Clusters of Edge nodes. Results show that Fog-Cloud computing framework outperforms a Cloud-only platform by 79.7% reduction in total latency or response time.
The Relationship Between Admission Systolic Blood Pressure and Mortality in Telestroke Patients

Background: A “U-shaped” relationship between admission blood pressure (BP) and mortality (wherein patients within a middle range have better outcomes than patients at higher or lower extremes) in ...
Academics’ Practice Is Consequential

As academics, we study others’ practices as important and meaningful. Outside accrediting agencies, websites that track the outcomes of our work and news media treat our own work as important and m...
Frequency and Pitch

Adiscussion of audio tones in the physics classroom will include mention of their frequency. The frequency of a periodic signal is a well-defined quantity that can readily be measured. A concept related to frequency is that of pitch. Pitch is a perceived quantity that cannot be measured directly and is most important when listeners characterize periodic acoustic signals. The distinction between frequency and pitch is often simplified or even overlooked entirely. Several examples are presented here that clearly illustrate that pitch and frequency are not always simply related.
Microperimetry as a diagnostic tool for the detection of early, subclinical retinal damage and visual impairment in multiple sclerosis.

A majority of multiple sclerosis patients experience visual impairment, often as the initial presenting symptom of the disease. While structural changes in the retinal nerve fiber layer and optic nerve have demonstrated correlations with brain atrophy in multiple sclerosis using magnetic resonance imaging, a non-invasive, cost-effective, and clinically efficacious modality to identify early damage and facilitate prompt therapeutic intervention to slow the progression of multiple sclerosis and its ocular manifestations, is still urgently needed. In this study, we sought to determine the role of macular sensitivity measured by microperimetry in the detection of subclinical multiple sclerosis-related retinal damage and visual dysfunction. This cross-sectional observational case-control study involved population-based samples of multiple sclerosis patients and age-, race-, and gender-matched healthy control subjects. Among the key criteria for the multiple sclerosis patients were diagnosis by the McDonald criteria, visual acuity greater than 20/25, and no history of optic neuritis. Macular sensitivity and average macular thickness were measured in all subjects using microperimetry and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, respectively. Pearson correlation coefficients were measured using bivariate correlations. Sample means, mean differences, and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using independent sample t-tests. Twenty-eight eyes from 14 MS patients and 18 eyes from 9 control subjects were included. Mean macular sensitivity of control subjects and multiple sclerosis patients in decibels was 18.2 ± 0.4 and 16.5 ± 0.4, respectively, corresponding to a mean difference of 1.7 (95% CI, 1.1–2.4; P < 0.001). Macular sensitivity was positively correlated with macular thickness in multiple sclerosis patients (r = 0.49, P = 0.01) but not control subjects (r = 0.15, P = 0.55). Macular sensitivity as measured by microperimetry was decreased in multiple sclerosis patients with normal visual acuity and no history of optic neuritis. Furthermore, macular sensitivity demonstrated a positive correlation with macular thickness as measured by optical coherence tomography. As such, microperimetry may represent a non-invasive and efficient method to identify signs of subclinical visual dysfunction that correspond with early macular architectural changes characteristic of multiple sclerosis.
Building Churches on Chinese Soil

The ethnography begins with an exploration of all the churches constructed in the city of Nanping and its surrounding district. The reader travels across the entire territory to discover how the shape, size, material nature, and location of contemporary Christian buildings speak to surrounding people and entities such as natural elements (mountains and rivers), village communities, political and legal constraints, and non-Christian religious sites. By providing an overview of the region, its history and social reality, its specific religious landscape, and its Christian denominations, the chapter argues that Christian buildings offer a holistic object to investigate the encounter between Christianity and broader Chinese society. Therefore, buildings—among other material objects—should be considered as specific actors (agents) in the making of Chinese Christianity.
Primary care physicians comprehensively manage acute pulmonary embolism without higher-level-of-care transfer: A report of two cases.

RATIONALE The evidence for outpatient pulmonary embolism (PE) management apart from hospitalization is expanding. The availability and ease of direct oral anticoagulants have facilitated this transition. The literature, however, is sparse on the topic of comprehensive management of pulmonary embolism in the primary care clinic setting. As such, the role of the primary care physician in the complete diagnosis, risk stratification for outpatient eligibility, and initiation of treatment is unclear. CASE PRESENTATIONS Case 1: A 33-year-old man with known heterozygous Factor V Leiden mutation and a remote history of deep vein thrombosis presented to his primary care physician's office with 2 days of mild pleuritic chest pain and a dry cough after a recent transcontinental flight. Case 2: A 48-year-old man with a complex medical history including recent transverse myelitis presented to his primary care family physician with dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain for 6 days. DIAGNOSIS Case 1: Computed tomographic pulmonary angiography that same afternoon showed multiple bilateral segmental and subsegmental emboli as well as several small pulmonary infarcts. Case 2: The patient's D-dimer was elevated at 1148 ng/mL. His physician ordered a computed tomographic pulmonary angiography, performed that evening, which showed segmental and subsegmental PE. INTERVENTIONS Both patients were contacted by their respective physicians shortly after their diagnoses and, in shared decision-making, opted for treatment at home with 5 days of enoxaparin followed by dabigatran. OUTCOMES Neither patient developed recurrence nor complications in the subsequent 3 months. LESSONS These cases, stratified as low risk using the American College of Chest Physicians criteria and the PE Severity Index, are among the first in the literature to illustrate comprehensive primary care-based outpatient PE management. Care was provided within an integrated delivery system with ready, timely access to laboratory, advanced radiology, and allied health services. This report sets the stage for investigating the public health implications of comprehensive primary care-based PE management, including cost-savings as well as enhanced patient follow-up and patient satisfaction.
Women, Wells, and Springs: Water Rights and Hagar’s Tribulations:

The theological problem underlying environmental and gender injustice is the pathological assumption that “the rest of” creation is available for use and commodification by a select group of privil...
From Illiberal Legislation to Intolerant Democracy

Democracy is not just about free and fair elections. It requires at least some minimal substantial guarantees, such as freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, that formulate and enable free choice of autonomous and equal agents. These notions are well founded in Israeli constitutional law, but in recent years it seems that this basic understanding of the democratic process is weakening, especially as reflected in the actions of the Knesset. Several recent examples of Knesset legislation processes suggest that Israeli democratic culture is being eroded, as some of democracy's fundamental notions are abandoned in favor of national-chauvinism and intolerance.
Towards Secure and Robust Autonomy Software in Autonomous Driving and Smart Transportation

Autonomous Driving (AD) technology has always been an international pursuit due to its significant benefit in driving safety, efficiency, and mobility. Over 15 years after the first DARPA Grand Challenge, its development and deployment are becoming increasingly mature and practical, with some AD vehicles already providing services on public roads (e.g., Google Waymo One in Phoenix and Baidu Apollo Go in China). In AD technology, the autonomy software stack, or the AD software, is highly security critical: it is in charge of safety-critical driving decisions such as collision avoidance and lane keeping, and thus any security problems in it can directly impact road safety. In this talk, I will describe my recent research that initiates the first systematic effort towards understanding and addressing the security problems in production AD software. I will be focusing on two critical modules: perception and localization, and talk about how we are able to discover novel and practical sensor/physical-world attacks that can cause end-to-end safety impacts such as crashing into obstacles or driving off road. Besides AD software, I will also briefly talk about my recent research on autonomy software security in smart transportation in general, especially those enabled by Connected Vehicle (CV) technology. I will conclude with a discussion on defense and future research directions.
Financial Stress, Race, and Student Debt During the Great Recession:

As the onus of paying for higher education shifted from the state onto students and their families, student indebtedness grew across a wide range of households in the United States in the 2000s, es...
Racial/Ethnic Differences in Correspondence Between Subjective Cognitive Ratings and Cognitive Impairment.

ABSTRACT Objectives : Responding to racial/ethnic disparities in dementia diagnosis and care, we examined the role of race/ethnicity in the correspondence between subjective and objective ratings of cognitive impairment. Our examination focused on the two types of discordance: (1) positive ratings in the presence of cognitive impairment and (2) negative ratings in the absence of cognitive impairment. Design and Participants : A cross-sectional assessment was conducted using the data from the Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP) project, a sub-study of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Our analytic sample included 3,096 participants: 2,257 non-Hispanic Whites, 498 Blacks, and 341 Hispanics. Measurements : Discordant groups were identified based on self-ratings of cognition (positive vs. negative) and the Langa–Weir classification of cognitive impairment (normal vs. impaired). Results : Blacks and Hispanics were more prone to falsely positive perceptions of their cognitive function in the presence of cognitive impairment than non-Hispanic Whites. On the other hand, non-Hispanic Whites were more likely to manifest negative ratings even in the absence of cognitive impairment. Conclusions : Our findings demonstrate the critical role of race/ethnicity in determining discordance between subjective and objective measures of cognition and highlight the importance of a tailored effort to promote dementia diagnosis and care.
SU-E-T-308: Dosimetric Comparison of SBRT VMAT Treatment Plans Generated for 6 MV, 6 MV FFF, and 10 MV FFF Photon Beams

Purpose: To assess differences in treatment plan quality between VMAT stereotactic body plans generated using the 6 MV, 6 MV FFF, and 10 MV FFF modalities available in our clinic. Plans for lung, spine, and other sites were compared to see if there is any advantage of one modality over the other. Methods: Treatment plans done for actual SBRT patients were selected. Groups of ten lung plans, five spine plans, and five plans from other sites were selected. New treatment plans were generated for each plan using the Varian Eclipse AAA algorithm. The constraints were kept the same as used in the actual plans, but the same version of software was used to generate plans for the three modalities. In addition, because there are natural variations in plans re-done with the same dose constraints, one of the lung plans was repeated ten times to assess those differences. Volumes of the 100%, 90%, 50%, 20% and 10% isodose surfaces were compared. Maximum dose two centimeters from the PTV were compared, as well as the volume of the 105% isodose surface outside of the PTV. In addition, the 20 Gray lung volume was compared for the lung plans. The values of these parameters were divided by the values for the 6 MV plans for comparison. Average and standard deviations were obtained for quantities in each group. The Student t test was done to determine if differences were seen at the 95% confidence level. Results: Comparison of the treatment plans showed no significant differences when assessing these volumes and doses. There were not any trends seen when comparing modalities as a function of PTV volume either. Conclusion: There is no obvious dosimetric advantage in selection of one modality over another for these types of SBRT plans.
NMR STUDIES OF 1H RESONANCES IN THE 10-18-PPM RANGE FOR ASPARTATE AMINOTRANSFERASE FROM ESCHERICHIA COLI

We have recorded 500-MHz 1H NMR spectra in the 10-18-ppm range for aspartate aminotransferase from Escherichia coli and for three specific mutant forms. Histidine 143 has been replaced by either alanine or asparagine. In the third mutant, tryptophan 140 has been replaced by phenylalanine. The NMR spectrum of the native enzyme is very similar to that of porcine cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase in the most downfield region. However, the resonances of the proton on the ring nitrogen of the pyridoxal 5‘-phosphate (peak A) and on the His-143 imidazole ring (peak B) of the E. coli enzyme are broader and more readily lost at low pH or higher temperatures than those of the porcine enzyme. The possible role of tautomerism in promoting such broadening is discussed. In the histidine mutant proteins, peak A of the pyridoxal 5‘-phosphate form is too broad to see under most conditions but is clearly present in the pyridoxamine phosphate form. Peak B is missing in the 2 histidine mutants. Observation of nuclear Overhauser effects further confirms the identity of B as the resonance of HN epsilon 2 of His-143 and that of peak D at approximately 11.8 ppm as HN epsilon 2 of His-189. The mutant spectra also provide insight into electronic interactions between groups in and near the active site which confirm and supplement conclusions drawn from spectra of porcine cAspAT. While no clear loss of a peak was observed for the Trp-140 mutant in its free form, the spectrum of the succinate complex lacked a strong band at 11.26 ppm. This may represent the Trp-140 indole NH proton which has been shifted downfield by binding to a succinate carboxylate group. While our results confirm the basic similarity of cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase and E. coli aspartate aminotransferase 1H NMR spectra, they also point out differences that may be useful in identifying resonances. A large number of mutant proteins have been prepared for the E. coli enzyme. The present results provide essential information for future study of these mutants and for study of NMR spectra of isotopically labeled enzyme.
Extending differential electrophoresis to measure nanoparticle forces

A method is being developed for measuring interparticle forces between nanoparticles. Previously, the method of differential electrophoresis has been used to measure forces between micron size particles with different zeta potentials. The method used video microscopy to measure colloidal trajectories, and the electrokinetic equations to interpret the forces. The developments that will enable nanoparticle forces to be measured include measurements between identical spheres, as well as a method for "visualizing" the moment of breakage for smaller particles. This paper focuses on the first of these goals, measuring forces between identical particles by interpreting trajectories of colloidal triplets.
Ecology, management, and conservation implications of North American beaver (Castor canadensis) in dryland streams

After near-extirpation in the early 20th century, beaver populations are increasing throughout many parts of North America. Simultaneously, there is an emerging interest in employing beaver activity for stream restoration in arid and semi-arid environments (collectively, ‘drylands’), where streams and adjacent riparian ecosystems are expected to face heightened challenges from climate change and human population growth. Despite growing interest in reintroduction programmes, surprisingly little is known about the ecology of beaver in dryland streams, and science to guide management decisions is often fragmented and incomplete. This paper reviews the literature addressing the ecological effects and management of beaver activity in drylands of North America, highlighting conservation implications, distinctions between temperate and dryland streams, and knowledge gaps. Well-documented effects of beaver activity in drylands include changes to channel morphology and groundwater processes, creation of perennial wetland habitat, and substantial impacts to riparian vegetation. However, many hypothesized effects derived from temperate streams lack empirical evidence from dryland streams. Topics urgently in need of further study include the distribution and local density of beaver dams; consequences of beaver dams for hydrology and water budgets; and effects of beaver activity on the spread of aquatic and riparian non-native species. In summary, this review suggests that beaver activity can create substantial benefits and costs for conservation. Where active beaver introductions or removals are proposed, managers and conservation organizations are urged to implement monitoring programmes and consider the full range of possible ecological effects and trade-offs. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Human papillomavirus DNA replication

Publisher Summary Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are a family of double-stranded circular DNA viruses with a genomic size of around eight kilobases. HPV are highly species–specific and infect only stratified squamous epithelial cells or mucosal membranes. Similar to many other aspects of HPV molecular biology, the DNA replication of bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV) has been the most studied and has become the paradigm for HPV–DNA replication. DNA replication studies with various HPVs have shown that although the BPV paradigm is often accurate, differences do exist between the viral DNA replication of BPV and some HPVs. Viruses infect at the basal layer of epidermal tissue and the virus undergoes three stages of replication. Within the basal and first suprabasal epidermal layers, the viral DNA is propagated until there are 50–100 copies per cell. During the second stage, the maintenance stage, viral DNA replication is replicated in synchrony with the host cell cycle, only occurring during S phase of the host cell cycle. During both of these stages the HPV DNA is maintained as episomal plasmids in the nuclei of infected cells. The third and final stage is the vegetative stage of viral replication. The vegetative stage only occurs in terminally differentiated tissues, and includes both an increase in the number of viral genome copies, as well as the expression of late genes and assembly of new virus.. The chapter also discusses E1 protein binding sequence (E1BS), E2 protein family, HPV–DNA replication in terminally differentiated cells, and so on.
Thermal Hall Effect of Spin Excitations in a Kagome Magnet

At low temperatures, the thermal conductivity of spin excitations in a magnetic insulator can exceed that of phonons. However, because they are charge neutral, the spin waves are not expected to display a thermal Hall effect. However, in the kagome lattice, theory predicts that the Berry curvature leads to a thermal Hall conductivity κ(xy). Here we report observation of a large κ(xy) in the kagome magnet Cu(1-3, bdc) which orders magnetically at 1.8 K. The observed κ(xy) undergoes a remarkable sign reversal with changes in temperature or magnetic field, associated with sign alternation of the Chern flux between magnon bands. The close correlation between κ(xy) and κ(xx) firmly precludes a phonon origin for the thermal Hall effect.
Dietary Biotin Effects on Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Chick Tissue Lipids and Prostaglandin E2 Levels in Freeze-Clamped Hearts

Chicks were fed a purified diet with 0, 100, 200, 300, 400, or 500 micrograms/kg diet of added biotin to determine the effects of biotin deficiency on polyunsaturated fatty acids in tissue lipids. Body weight was reduced by biotin deficiency and liver and heart biotin levels varied with the biotin in the diet. Fatty acids in liver and lung from biotin-deficient chicks at 15 days contained elevated (P less than .03) 18:3 omega 3 and 18:2 omega 6 but prostaglandin precursors 20:3 omega 6 and 20:4 omega 6 were reduced (P less than .03) in liver lipids. Heart tissues from 15-day-old chicks fed the biotin-deficient diet were low (P less than .03) in 20:3 omega 6. Feeding acetylsalicylic acid in diets containing added biotin (0, 100, 400, and 500 micrograms/kg) did not significantly alter fatty acid levels in chick tissue lipids but significantly reduced plasma prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Biotin deficiency reduced heart PGE2 levels in 22-day-old chicks. An 8-h fast reduced (P less than .04) 20:4 omega 6 in chick heart total fatty acids.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for chronic pain: A diary study of treatment process in relation to reliable change in disability

Abstract In chronic pain treatment, a primary goal is reduced disability. It is often assumed that a central process by which disability reduction occurs is pain reduction. Conversely, approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) posit that pain reduction is not necessary for reduced disability. Instead, disability reduction occurs when responses to pain are changed, such that as unsuccessful struggles for pain control decreases and engagement in personally-valued activities increases. Treatment outcome studies have supported ACT׳s effectiveness; however, less work has examined how within-treatment patterns of change relate to treatment success or failure (i.e., decreased or sustained disability). The present study, therefore, sought to examine this issue. Specifically, struggles for pain control and engagement in valued activities were recorded weekly in 21 patients who completed a four week interdisciplinary ACT intervention for chronic pain. It was hypothesized that the presence or absence of reliable change in disability at a three month follow-up would be predicted by within treatment patterns of change in the weekly data. At follow-up, 47.6% of patients evidenced reliable disability reduction. The expected pattern of change occurred in 81.0% of patients – specifically, when pain control attempts decreased and engagement in valued activities increased, reliably reduced disability typically occurred, while the absence of this pattern was typically associated with a lack of reliable change. Further, changes in pain intensity, also assessed weekly, were unrelated to reliable change. Overall, these results provide additional support for the ACT model and further suggest some possible requirements for treatment success.
Bombesin/gastrin-releasing peptide antagonists RC-3095 and RC-3940-II inhibit tumor growth and decrease the levels and mRNA expression of epidermal growth factor receptors in H-69 small cell lung carcinoma

BACKGROUND Antagonists of bombesin/gastrin-releasing peptide (BN/GRP) have been developed to block the autocrine stimulatory effect of BN/GRP on tumors such as small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). Although several studies have addressed the intracellular events that follow the formation of the receptor-ligand complex, the mechanism of action of BN/GRP antagonists remains unclear. METHODS In this study the authors investigated the effect of synthetic BN/GRP antagonists RC-3095 and RC-3940-II on tumor growth and the expression of epidermal growth factor receptors (EGF-R) in H-69 SCLC. Athymic nude mice xenografted with H-69 SCLC were treated subcutaneously for 5 weeks with RC-3095 and RC-3940-II at the dose of 10 μg/animal/day. RESULTS RC-3095 decreased tumor volume by approximately 50% (P < 0.05) and RC-3940-II by 70-60% (P < 0.01). Tumor burden also was significantly decreased in the groups treated with RC-3095 and RC-3940-II. Receptor analyses demonstrated high affinity binding sites for BN/GRP and EGF on the untreated H-69 SCLC tumors. After treatment with RC-3095 and RC-3940-II, the concentration of receptors for BN/GRP was decreased by 29.0% and 36.5%, respectively (both, P < 0.01) compared with controls, and EGF-R levels were reduced by 62.3% and 63.0%, respectively (both, P < 0.01). Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot analyses revealed that the levels of mRNA for EGF-R in tumors were lowered by 31% (P < 0.05) and 43% (P < 0.01), respectively, after treatment with RC-3095 and RC-3940-II. CONCLUSIONS This study indicates that the inhibition of growth of H-69 SCLC by BN/GRP antagonists RC-3095 and RC-3940-II is accompanied by a marked decrease in the levels and mRNA expression of EGF-R. Cancer 1998;83:1335-1343. © 1998 American Cancer Society.
Surgery for Male Infertility

In the past decade, there have been significant changes in the available treatment options for infertile men. Novel medical and minimally invasive treatments have been introduced. However, the management of male infertility will often involve surgical therapy, particularly with regard to azoospermia. For azoospermic men, surgical sperm retrieval is essential to allow subsequent treatment with assisted reproduction. Furthermore, a surgical approach allows diagnostic information to be gathered regarding the cause and prognosis for treatment success. Surgical treatment of male infertility can be very successful at providing high rates of pregnancy and is typically more cost effective than alternative forms of treatment such as assisted reproduction procedures alone.
Sterilization of Listeria monocytogenes by guinea pig peritoneal exudate cell cultures

Abstract Non-glass-adherent cells (lymphocytes) of peritoneal exudates from guinea pigs infected with bacillus of Calmette-Guerin (BCG), stimulated in vitro by specific (tuberculin) or nonspecific phytohemagglutinin P (PHA) mitogens, conferred on glass-adherent cell (macrophage) cultures from BCG-infected, or homologous, noninfected guinea pigs the ability to sterilize Listeria monocytogenes . Lymphocytes from noninfected guinea pigs, stimulated by mitogens, had little or no activity in this test system, although the adherent monolayer cells were seen to be “activated” by morphologic criteria when PHA was employed. Phagocytosis of the bacteria was inhibited in sterilizing macrophage-lymphocyte cultures even after washing of the cultures had eliminated most of the cell clusters seen in activated cultures. However, the monolayers, before and after washing, were found to produce a soluble, filtrable factor(s) which sterilized the listeria. This activity was detectable as early as 17 hr in mixed-cell culture filtrates, and 42-hr monolayers continued to generate this active material after repeated washings with fresh medium up to 72 hr. No listeria-sterilizing activity was found in filtrates of mitogen-stimulated nonadherent lymphocyte cultures without macrophages, and such filtrates were not active in stimulating macrophage monolayers to produce the material although the cells in such monolayers were seen to manifest increased surface adherence and spreading characteristic of “activated” macrophages. Also, such culture filtrates were shown not to antagonize the antibacterial activity of listeria-sterilizing filtrates. Preliminary characterization of the listeria-sterilizing material revealed the following: (a) a molecular weight of 50,000 or more; (b) stable at 56 °C for 30 min in medium containing serum; (c) bound to the bacterial cells at 0 °C; (d) inactivated by the strong reducing agent, dithiothreitol, and partially reactivated by H 2 O 2 oxidation; (e) partially antagonized by deoxyribonucleic acid; (f) inactive against two species, of salmonella; (g) not inhibited or enhanced by listeria-agglutinating antibodies.
Taming the Dragon: Outlining an African Response to Growing Chinese Engagement

Steering scholarship away from a dichotomously aligned debate between apologists and critics of Chinese engagement in Africa, this article redirects attention to the policy-oriented question of ‘what practical steps can Africans take to seize the opportunities Chinese emergence presents?’ The authors recommend that regional organisations coordinate intraregional trade, economic and industrial policies to forge a path towards sustainable region-wide development and implement a code of conduct based on the 1977 Sullivan Principles; aimed at removing the structural impediments average Africans are faced with.
Magnetic characteristics of R6Mn23 hydrides (R = Gd, Ho or Er)

Abstract R 6 Mn 23 systems, with R = Gd, Ho and Er, were hydrided to the composition R 6 Mn 23 H x where x ap; 22. Magnetic properties of these systems and the parent intermetallics were studied over the temperature range 4 to 300 K and at applied field up to 21 kOe. Since Y 6 Mn 23 H 25 was established earlier to exhibit only Pauli paramagnetism, the magnetism of the R 6 Mn 23 hydrides must originate with the rare earth sublattice. Gd 6 Mn 23 H 22 orders at ≈ 150 K, whereas ordering in Gd 6 Mn 23 occurs at 468 K. The moment measured at 4 K indicates a non-collinear structure, perhaps generated by competition involving exchange between nearest and next nearest neighbors. The hydrides involving Ho and Er appear to remain paramagnetic to the lowest temperatures studied, perhaps because the reduced de Gennes factor exchange is insufficient to produce magnetic ordering. The possibility cannot be excluded, however, that they are antiferromagnetic.
Sexism and Rape Culture in Moroccan Social Discourse

In March, 1993, Hajj Mustapha Tabit was arrested in Morocco for abusing his power as a police commissioner by abducting and sexually assaulting hundreds of women over a period of thirteen years. The reaction in the local Moroccan press is examined here, demonstrating a structure of discourse that blamed female victims, elevated the male offender to a kind of cult status, and generally contributed to the perpetuation of a sexist subjectivity in a nation that was only beginning to deal with crimes against women in any organized manner. The specifics of the case study are placed in the general context of women's struggle for emancipation in Morocco.
Global Trends and Issues in Information Technology in Education

This special issue of Computers in the Schools focuses on global developments in information technology in education. Why have we chosen a special issue on this topic? In the United States and many...
Osmium isotopic variations in metalliferous sediments from the East Pacific Rise and the Bauer Basin

The osmium concentration and isotopic composition of metalliferous sediments from the East Pacific Rise (EPR) and Bauer Basin have been determined. 187Os186Os ratios range from 7.9 to 8.6, with EPR samples between 8.4 and 8.6, and Bauer Basin samples between 7.9 and 8.2. The osmium isotopic composition of EPR samples is indistinguishable from the inferred osmium isotopic composition of seawater, requiring that nearly all the osmium in these sediments is hydrogenous in origin. This result is used to place broad constraints on the behavior of osmium in ridge crest hydrothermal systems. While Bauer Basin samples also contain predominantly hydrogenous osmium, an additional source of osmium with low 187Os186Os is required to account for the lower measured ratios. Calculation of total osmium burial fluxes in the Bauer Basin show that the background flux of cosmic osmium is adequate to produce the observed depression in Bauer Basin 187Os186Os ratios. Burial flux calculations also suggest that metalliferous sediment deposition is a significant sink in the marine osmium cycle.
Direct mass spectrometric determination of bead bound compounds in a combinatorial lead discovery application

A mass spectrometric strategy for the direct determination of the structures of compounds on active beads selected from combinatorial mixtures by ultrahigh throughput screening is presented. Complementary mass spectrometric data (exact mass and MS/MS spectra) were obtained in a single acquisition using automatic function switching. Analyses of these data produced unequivocal identifications of the structure in 70% of the cases. The automatic computer analyses generated definitve solutions in 80% of the analyses. The remainder of the beads contained mixtures of components or components not in the enumerated library (either by-products or degradants of expected components). In these cases the identity of the compounds were conclusively deduced from manual interpretation of the mass spectral data. The putative identities of all active compounds were confirmed by resynthesis and comparison of the mass spectrometric data for the putative and authentic structures. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Electrochemical preparation of the ternary graphite intercalation compound with H2SO4 and H2SeO4

Abstract Stage-n H2SeO4-graphite intercalation compounds (GICs) (n = 2,3) prepared by galvanostatic oxidation of graphite in H2SeO4 were transferred into the electrolytic cell filled with H2SO4 and then continued the oxidation. From the observed electrode potential vs. electric quantity curves and the results of measured C Se atomic ratio, it was suggested that H2SO4 was intercalated into stage-n H2SeO4-GICs and the products were ternary GICs of H2SeO4 and H2SO4. When these ternary GICs were reduced electrochemically, at first H2SO4 was deintercalated and then H2SeO4 began to be released. These results may suggest that H2SO4 and H2SeO4 are intercalated in separate interlayer spaces of graphite, i.e. bi-intercalation. Intercalation of H2SeO4 into stage-2 H2SO4-GIC was also observed.
Interpretation of bitewing radiographs: Application of the kappa statistic to determine rater agreements

The interrater agreement of 34 dentists in determining the presence or absence of caries and the depth of caries in bitewing radiographs was studied. The kappa statistic was used to determine rater agreement, and results indicate that there was substantial agreement on the presence or absence of caries and only fair agreement on the specific depth of caries. Because of the degree of disagreement in determination of the extent of caries among examiners, it is recommended that this fact be taken into account in relation to the findings on bitewing radiographs, particularly when there may be differences of opinion between parties.
Interpersonal personality measures show circumplex structure based on new psychometric criteria

The importance of the interpersonal circle in organizing the interpersonal domain is complemented by its empirical relations with broader personality taxonomies and with more specific personality variables. Yet circumplex structure in interpersonal measures has often been investigated using the "eyeball test" rather than using circumplex criteria of known effectiveness. Simulations (Acton, 1999) showed the effectiveness of 5 exploratory criteria (3 entirely new) that assess the properties of equal spacing, constant radius, and no preferred rotation. Along with Browne's (1992) criterion, these were applied to the Interpersonal Checklist (ICL; LaForge & Suczek, 1955; N = 763), Interpersonal Adjective Scales (IAS; Wiggins, 1979; Ns = 716 and 187), Revised IAS (IAS-R; Wiggins, Trapnell, & Phillips, 1988; N = 474), Inventory of Interpersonal Problems Circumplex Scales (IIP-C; Alden, Wiggins, & Pincus, 1990; Ns = 616 and 1,381), and Inventory of Interpersonal Goals (IIG; Horowitz, Dryer, & Krasnoperova, 1997; N = 318). In corroboration of interpersonal theory, all showed circumplex structure.
A Universal Identifier for Computational Results

Abstract We present a discipline for verifiable computational scienti_c research. Our discipline revolves around three simple new concepts — verifiable computational result (VCR), VCR repository and Verifiable Result Identifier (VRI). These are web- and cloud-computing oriented concepts, which exploit today's web infrastructure to achieve standard, simple and automatic reproducibility in computational scientific research. The VCR discipline requires very slight modifications to the way researchers already conduct their computational research and authoring, and to the way publishers manage their content. In return, the discipline marks a significant step towards delivering on the long-anticipated promises of making scientific computation truly reproducible. A researcher practicing this discipline in everyday work produces computational scripts and word processor files that look very much like those they already produce today, but in which a few lines change very subtly and naturally. Those scripts produce a stream of verifiable results, which are the same tables, figures, charts and datasets the researcher traditionally would have produced, but which are watermarked for permanent identification by a VRI, and are automatically and permanently stored in a VCR repository. In a scientific community practicing Verifiable Computational Research, exchange of both ideas and data involves exchanging result identifiers—VRIs—rather than exchanging files. These identifiers are controlled, trusted and automatically generated strings that point to publicly available result as it was originally created by the computational process itself. When a verifiable result is included in a publication, its identifier can be used by any reader with a web browser to locate, browse and, where appropriate, re-execute the computation that produced the result. Journal readers can therefore scrutinize, dispute, understand and eventually trust these computational results, all to an extent impossible through textual explanations that constitute the core of scientific publications to date. In addition, the result identi_er can be used by subsequent computations to locate and retrieve both the published result (in graphical or numerical form) and the original datasets used by its generating computation. Colleagues can thus cite and import data into their own computations, just as traditional publications allow them to cite and import ideas. We describe an existing software implementation of the Verifiable Computational Research discipline, and argue that it solves many of the crucial problems commonly facing computer-based and computer-aided research in various scientific fields. Our system is secure, naturally adapted to large-scale and cloud computations and to modern massive data analysis, yet places effectively no additional workload on either the researcher or the publisher.
Beta EEG activity and insomnia

To date there have been seven studies which find that beta EEG is elevated at around sleep onset and during polysomnographic sleep in patients with insomnia. These findings suggest that insomnia may be characterized by central nervous system (CNS) hyperarousal. In this article, the seven studies are critically reviewed, two theoretical perspectives on beta EEG are presented, and the concept of hyperarousal as a three component process is discussed.
JLS/JLSCircuitTester: a comprehensive logic design and simulation tool

JLS and JLSCircuitTester are logic design, simulation and testing tools that meet the needs of instructors and students in logic design and computer organization courses. They were designed and implemented by instructors of such courses expressly to lecture with, to do student projects, and to subsequently grade those assignments. They are free, portable, easy to install and easy to learn and use, yet powerful enough to create and test circuits ranging from simple collections of gates to complete CPUs. They come with on-line tutorials, help, and pre-made circuits taken directly from the pages of several commonly used computer organization textbooks.
Estimation of the Passing of Four Consecutive Hours

In the AM and PM (9 to 1) males and females gave estimates of the hourly passing of time for 4 hr. There were no differences between sexes or AM/PM estimates. The group was less than 1 min off after an hour and 12 min off after 4 hr. There was a wide range of individual differences. One-fourth of the subjects were within an error of 10 min after 4 hr whereas another one-fourth were off more than 50 min. The accuracy of estimates was about equal to accuracy of awakening from sleep to randomly chosen awakening times.
A Combined Hipparcos and Multichannel Astrometric Photometer Study of the Proposed Planetary System of ρ Coronae Borealis

Hipparcos and Multichannel Astrometric Photometer (MAP) observations of rho Coronae Borealis independently display astrometric motion at the period of the proposed extrasolar planetary companion to the star. Individual least-squares fits to each astrometric data set yield independent estimates of the semimajor axis, inclination, and node angle that are in excellent agreement. A combined solution of the Hipparcos and MAP data yields an inclination of 0.5 deg, a node at 30.5 +/- 12.4, and a semimajor axis of 1.66 +/- 0.35 mas, indicating a companion mass of 0.14 +/- 0.05 solar masses over two orders of magnitude greater than the minimum mass for the companion as determined by radial velocity studies. This mass is approximately that of an M dwarf star, the companion cannot be a planetary object.
Laser Use and Research in Gastroenterology, Gynecology, and General Surgery: A Status Report

Objective and Background Data: Despite the burgeoning growth of laser applications in dermatology and plastic surgery, applications in other specialties have declined. Laser use in gastroenterology, general surgery, and gynecology was examined over the past 3 years. Future trends and opportunities are discussed. Methods: The MEDLINE® was scanned for scholarly publications between January 1, 1997, and January 1, 2000, and the number of publications in these specialties was determined. A questionnaire was distributed to 362 general surgeons from the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS) to assess current use and future needs. These results were compared to the actual cases performed at a laser center over the same period. Results: Of 3331 publications, 21 (0.6%) covered gastroenterology (GE), general surgery (GS), gynecology (GYN), or laparoscopy (LAP). Keyword citations were 2 GS, 3 GYN, 7 GE, and 12 LAP. Questionnaire results and actual utilization were well correlated. Conclusions: Lase...
INVESTIGATION OF ELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE IMAGING RELATIVE TO TWO-PHASE, GAS-LIQUID FLOWS

Abstract The determination of interfacial area density in two-phase, gas-liquid flows is one of the major elements impeding significant development of predictive tools based on the two-fluid model. Currently, these models require coupling of liquid and vapor at interfaces using constitutive equations which do not exist in any but the most rudimentary form. Work described herein represents the progress towards the development of electrical impedance imaging (EII), sometimes called electrical impedance computed tomography (EICT) which may ultimately be utilized for nonintrusive determination of interfacial structure and evolution in such flows.
Braquetes autoligáveis: futuro da Ortodontia?

O interesse em se corrigir uma ma posicao dentaria esteve presente mesmo antes da era An-gle. Este interesse veio sempre associado a novas invencoes tecnologicas. Kingsley (1825-1896) de-senvolveu a tracao occipital e o plano inclinado. Farrar (1839-1913) ja desenvolvia um interesse mais agucado pela biologia da movimentacao den-taria e pelo estudo da mecânica dos movimentos. Da mesma forma, desenvolveu dispositivos para a correcao de rotacoes dentarias e expansao da ma-xila com parafuso expansor. Angle (1855-1930) nao so contribuiu para a Ortodontia como ciencia, mas patenteou inumeros aparelhos ortodonticos (Fig. 1), a iniciar pelo arco-E (1900), depois pelo aparelho pino e tubo (1910), arco de cinta (1916) e culminando com o modelo final do aparelho Edgewise, em 1926
A chi-squabe statistic for goodies-of-fit tests within the exponential family

When the class boundaries used in constructing a chi-square goodness-of-fit statistic are predetermined and the unknown parameters are estimated by maximum likelihood from the ungrouped data, the resulting statistic does not have a limiting X2-distribution but instead is asymptotically distributed as a linear function of chi-square variables. The same result applies in the more realistic and useful case where only the number of classes and their probability content are predetermined. It is shown here that in both of the above cases, in the case of exponential family, the quadratic form of the asymptotic multinomial conditional distribution of the class frequencies given the parameter estimates can be used to test the goodness-of-fit, The simulated distribution of the statistic agrees with the X2-distribution with degrees of freedom one less than the number of classes after grouping, regardless of the number of parameters estimated.
Adverse effects of resilient denture liners in overlay dentures

Abstract A resilient silicone denture liner has been used in overlay dentures for retentive purposes to avoid placing crowns on remaining teeth. The resilient denture liner may have created an optimal environment for bacterial growth with resultant destruction of the teeth and supporting soft tissues.
Salt and drought stresses induce the aberrant expression of microRNA genes in tobacco

Drought and salinity stresses significantly altered microRNA (miRNA) expression in a dose-dependent manner in tobacco. Salinity stress changed the miRNA expression levels from a 6.86-fold down-regulation to a 616.57-fold up-regulation. Alternatively, miRNAs were down-regulated by 2.68-fold and up-regulated 2810-fold under drought conditions. miR395 was most sensitive to both stresses and was up-regulated by 616 and 2810-folds by 1.00% PEG and 0.171 M NaCl, respectively. Salinity and drought stresses also changed the expression of protein-coding genes [alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and alcohol peroxidase (APX)]. The results suggest that miRNAs may play an important role in plant response to environmental abiotic stresses. Further investigation of miRNA-mediated gene regulation may elucidate the molecular mechanism of plant tolerance to abiotic stresses and has the potential to create a miRNA-based biotechnology for improving plant tolerance to drought and salinity stresses.