cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Teaching Program for Experimentation with Computer-Assisted Instruction.

-Although many perspicacious mathematics teachers are interested in learning more about computer-assisted instruction (CAI), the high costs and relative inaccessibility1 of these sophisticated systems have afforded little opportunity for firsthand experience with this technological advance which will surely have far-reaching effects on education. Recently, however, a program has been developed which will "convert" a small general-purpose computer, available at many schools and campuses, to an electronic teaching machine capable of teaching skills with facts of both multiplication and addition.2 Furthermore, the author wishes to announce that this program is available to readers of The Arithmetic Teacher. It is hoped that the dissemination of this program will lead to improved pupil achievement, increased teacher and parental interest in innovation,
Developing a geostatistical simulation method to inform the quantity and placement of new monitors for a follow-up air sampling campaign.

Sampling campaign design is a crucial aspect of air pollution exposure studies. Selection of both monitor numbers and locations is important for maximizing measured information, while minimizing bias and costs. We developed a two-stage geostatistical-based method using pilot NO2 samples from Lanzhou, China with the goal of improving sample design decision-making, including monitor numbers and spatial pattern. In the first step, we evaluate how additional monitors change prediction precision through minimized kriging variance. This was assessed in a Monte Carlo fashion by adding up to 50 new monitors to our existing sites with assigned concentrations based on conditionally simulated NO2 surfaces. After identifying a number of additional sample sites, a second step evaluates their potential placement using a similar Monte Carlo scheme. Evaluations are based on prediction precision and accuracy. Costs are also considered in the analysis. It was determined that adding 28-locations to the existing Lanzhou NO2 sampling campaign captured 73.5% of the total kriged variance improvement and resulted in predictions that were on average within 10.9 μg/m3 of measured values, while using 56% of the potential budget. Additional monitor sites improved kriging variance in a nonlinear fashion. This method development allows for informed sampling design by quantifying prediction improvement (accuracy and precision) against the costs of monitor deployment.
Glances That Matter: Applying Quantile Regression to Assess Driver Distraction from Off-Road Glances

This study assessed whether quantile regression can identify design specifications that lead to particularly long glances, which might go unnoticed with traditional analyses focusing on conditional means of off-road glances. Although substantial research indicates that long glances contribute disproportionately to crash risk, few studies have directly assessed the tails of the distribution. Failing to examine the distribution tails might underestimate the disproportionate risk on long glances imposed by secondary tasks. We applied quantile regression to assess the effects of secondary task type (reading or entry), system delay (delay or no delay), and text length (long or short) on off-road glance duration at 15th, 50th, and 85th quantiles. The results show that entry task, long text, and some combinations of variables led to longer glances than that would be expected given the central tendency of glance distributions. Quantile regression identifies secondary task features that produce long glances, which...
Iterates of Conditional Expectation Operators

Let {Tn} be a sequence of conditional expectation operators in \(L_1=L_1(W, \ F, \ P)\) where (W, F, P) is a probability space. Let \(S_n=T_n \ldots T_2 T_1\). It is known [l, p. 331] that if {T n } is monotone decreasing, that is, if the range of \(T_{n+1}\) is a subset of the range of \(T_n\) for all n, then for each x in L 1 the sequence {S n x} converges almost everywhere. Here, the pointwise convergence behavior of {Snx} is studied under other conditions. For example, if \(T_{2n-1}={T_1} \ {\rm and} \ {T_{2n}}={T_2}\) for all n, does {Snx} converge almost everywhere? This question was first posed by J. L. Doob. It is proved here that if x is in L2, then this is indeed the case, and, furthermore, \({\rm sup}_{n} \ |S_{n}x| \ {\rm is \ in} \ L_2\). Several of the preliminary results needed, especially Theorems 1 and 2, seem to be of some interest in their own right. The linear spaces mentioned in this paper may be either real or complex. All of our results hold with either interpretation.
Far-field acoustic subwavelength imaging and edge detection

The resolution of far-field acoustic imaging is limited due to the loss of the evanescent field that carries subwavelength information. In this work, we report on the design and experimental realization of an acoustic far-field subwavelength imaging system based on a transmitting/receiving pair for wave vector filtering and conversion. In the near-field, the transmitter is composed of a resonator array for pre-filtering the evanescent wave, and an acoustic phase grating for converting the filtered evanescent wave into propagating wave. In the far-field, a receiver that is spatially symmetrical to the transmitter is used to convert the propagating wave back to evanescent wave and perform post-filtering. By tuning the resonance frequency of the resonator array and period of the phase grating, different spatial frequency bands can be separated and projected to the far-field. Far-field imaging and edge detection of subwavelength objects are experimentally demonstrated. The proposed system brings new possibilities for far-field subwavelength wave manipulation, which can be further applied to medical imaging, nondestructive testing, and acoustic communication.
Picking the Y variable, picking the X variables

Abstract This chapter provides examples of how credit data is turning into variables that together predict very generally whether people will pay back the loans they take on. The most useful variable is one that shows how much money the borrower can still get from revolving credit cards. This variable shows the degree credit card companies have come to trust a person, growing larger as the consumer ages or if his or her wealth or income is higher. However, this is a data-mining exercise, not a meaning exercise. Other variables of importance are recency of delinquency, depth of delinquency, and number of recent tries for debt. I show some common graphical techniques and how to calculate them, including the Lorenz charts and information value chart.
Capacitive Lamé Mode Resonators in $65\ \mu \mathrm{m}$ -Thick Monocrystalline Silicon Carbide with Q-Factors Exceeding 20 Million

This paper reports on the implementation of a capacitive in-plane Lame mode resonator in $65\ \mu \mathrm{m}$ -thick monocrystalline 4H silicon carbide on insulator (SiCOI) with ultra-low dissipation. Boasting the highest $f\cdot Q$ in Lame mode resonators to date, this work is a stepping stone toward realizing a myriad of high-performance instruments and sensors in monocrystalline SiC. In addition to providing chemical and environmental robustness, SiC exhibits extremely low levels of intrinsic dissipation, potentially enabling $f\cdot Q\mathrm{s}\ 30\times$ higher than those achievable in silicon (Si). However, attaining quantum-limited microresonators demands scrupulous processing and careful, deliberate design. With this in view, Lame mode square resonators are excellent candidates to probe the fundamental phonon dissipation limits of SiC. Acoustically-engineered anchoring tethers composed of 1D phononic crystal (PnC) strips localize the acoustic vibration, limiting losses to the substrate. Electrostatically-transduced Lame mode resonators are fabricated by deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) of fusion bonded SiCOI substrates, displaying a $Q$ -factor of 20 Million (M) at 6.27 MHz with $f\cdot Q=1.25 \times 10^{14}$ Hz, over 4× above the Akhiezer limit set in (100) Si substrates. With further process optimization, these resonators can theoretically achieve $Q\mathrm{s}$ in excess of 100M at room temperature. Across the temperature range −45° to 85°C, the thermal coefficient of frequency (TCF) of on-axis 4H-SiC Lame modes is −12 ppm/°C.
Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging Alone is Insufficient to Detect Grade Reclassification in Active Surveillance for Prostate Cancer

Abstract Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) has improved the detection of clinically significant prostate cancer. It remains unclear, however, whether mpMRI can safely replace confirmatory or surveillance biopsies in men with low-risk disease managed with active surveillance (AS). Overall, 166 men were upgraded at a median of 29 mo (interquartile range 13–54). The overall negative predictive value (NPV) of mpMRI was 79.5% and ranged from 74.4% to 84.6% for all AS biopsies up to the fourth surveillance biopsy. In men with prostate-specific antigen density ≥0.15 ng/ml/cm3, the overall NPV of mpMRI was 65.5% and ranged from 57.1% to 73.3% across serial mpMRI scans. These findings support the hypothesis that mpMRI is helpful but insufficient to rule out pathological reclassification, especially at confirmatory biopsy or in the presence of other risk factors. Patient summary Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) alone misses a considerable percentage of clinically significant prostate cancers (Gleason grade group ≥2) in men on active surveillance for low-risk prostate cancer. We conclude that mpMRI alone cannot safely replace surveillance prostate biopsies, particularly at confirmatory biopsy or in the presence of other risk factors.
When to Rule Out COVID-19: How Many Negative RT-PCR Tests Are Needed?

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, clinicians have been plagued with dilemmas related to the uncertainty about diagnostic testing for the virus. It has become commonplace for a patient under investigation (PUI) to repeatedly test negative but have imaging findings that are consistent with COVID-19. This raises the question of when the treating team should entertain alternative diagnoses. We present such a case to help provide a framework for how to weigh repeatedly negative test results in clinical decision making when there is ongoing concern for COVID-19.
A Resident-as-Teacher Curriculum for Senior Residents Leading Morning Report: A Learner-Centered Approach Through Targeted Faculty Mentoring.

Introduction Senior resident-led morning report (MR) occurs in many residency programs, but residents rarely receive training on how to facilitate MR or feedback on their facilitation. I created an...
Suppressing Anterior Cingulate Cortex Modulates Default Mode Network and Behavior in Awake Rats

The default mode network (DMN) is a principal brain network in the mammalian brain. Although the DMN in humans has been extensively studied with respect to network structure, function, and clinical implications, our knowledge of DMN in animals remains limited. In particular, the functional role of DMN nodes, and how DMN organization relates to DMN-relevant behavior are still elusive. Here we investigated the causal relationship of inactivating a pivotal node of DMN (i.e., dorsal anterior cingulate cortex [dACC]) on DMN function, network organization, and behavior by combining chemogenetics, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) and behavioral tests in awake rodents. We found that suppressing dACC activity profoundly changed the activity and connectivity of DMN, and these changes were associated with altered DMN-related behavior in animals. The chemo-rsfMRI-behavior approach opens an avenue to mechanistically dissecting the relationships between a specific node, brain network function, and behavior. Our data suggest that, like in humans, DMN in rodents is a functional network with coordinated activity that mediates behavior.
Exploration of Factors Associated With Surgeon Deviation From Practice Guidelines for Management of Inguinal Hernias.

Importance Despite availability of evidence-based guidelines for surgery, many patients receive guideline-discordant care. Reasons for this are largely unknown. For example, evidence-based guidelines recommend a minimally invasive approach for persons with bilateral or recurrent unilateral inguinal hernias. Benefits are also noted for primary unilateral inguinal hernia. However, findings from previous quantitative research indicate that only 26% of patients receive this treatment and only 42% of surgeons offer a minimally invasive approach, even for recurrent or bilateral hernias. Objective To explore factors associated with surgeon choice of approach (minimally invasive vs open) in inguinal hernia repair as a tool to gain an understanding of guideline-discordant care. Design, Setting, and Participants Qualitative study performed as part of a larger explanatory sequential mixed methods design. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 21 practicing surgeons from a large statewide quality collaborative who were diverse with regard to practice type, geographic location, and surgical specialty. Qualitative interviews consisted of a clinical vignette, followed by semi-structured interview questions. Through thematic analysis using qualitive data analysis software, patterns within the data were located, analyzed, and identified. All data were collected between April 24 and July 31, 2018. Exposure Clinical vignette as part of the qualitative interviews. Main Outcomes and Measures Capture of surgical approaches and factors motivating decision-making for inguinal hernia repair. Results Of the 21 participating surgeons, 17 (81%) were men, 18 (86%) were White, and all were 35 years of age or older. Data revealed 3 dominant themes: surgeon preference and autonomy (eg, favoring one approach over the other), access and resources (eg, availability of robot), and patient characteristics (eg, age, comorbidities). Conclusions and Relevance Decision-making for the approach to inguinal hernia repair is largely influenced by surgeon preference and access to resources rather than patient factors. Although a one-size-fits-all approach is not recommended, the operative approach should ideally be informed by patient factors, including hernia characteristics. Addressing surgeon preference and available resources with a clinician-facing decision aid may provide an opportunity to optimize care for patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair.
A Real-World Negotiation Task for Real-time (Synchronous) Learning

This paper describes a negotiation task designed to introduce negotiation concepts to business students experientially in a manner that also has real consequences for the students. Students negotiate for a variety of actual items that they can take home or use in other ways. Furthermore, the task, previously done only in face-to-face classes, was recently reorganized to include both in person and remotely attending students. Both in person and remote students participate in the process and debriefing, and typically report that they enjoyed the exercise and felt engaged. This activity helps answer the need to provide complex and messy experiences during synchronous instruction that can help achieve the same gains typically provided by experiential learning within the in person classroom.
Electrochemical etching of porous silicon – DFT modeling

Abstract Based on quantum-chemical calculations, the reactions that can take place on hydrogenated silicon surfaces under the action of both negative and positive ionic complexes of aqueous solutions of HF were investigated. It is shown that there is a high energy barrier for the passage of the H → F substitution reaction; therefore, electrochemical dissolution of silicon according to the classical scheme is unlikely. On the faces (100), (110) and at their intersection, a barrier-free reaction of direct fluorination of silicon can take place. The mechanism of the transition between different regimes of silicon etching, the dependence of the rate of electrochemical etching and pore size in porous silicon on the concentration of HF in the electrolyte, and the reasons for the difficulty of electrochemical etching of silicon near boron impurity atoms are explained.
Turnover, Legitimacy, and the EU Timescape

This chapter synthesizes the volume’s findings. It suggests that personnel turnover in EU institutions has few effects on legitimacy’s input facet and significant effects on legitimacy’s throughput and output facets. The chapter assesses the ways that the volume’s findings bear on populist and feminist critiques of EU politics: accumulated findings show that the populist critique overstates turnover’s redemptive potential and that the feminist critique receives early empirical support. The chapter argues that personnel turnover is a critical component of the EU’s dynamic institutional system and forms an integral part of the EU’s timescape (Goetz and Meyer-Sahling 2012). The chapter concludes by presenting ideas for future work on personnel turnover, EU legitimacy, and the EU timescape.
Portal Vein Thrombosis and Splenic Infarction in a COVID-19 Patient.

COVID-19 is a novel viral infection that primarily affects the lungs and runs the gamut from a mild, self-limiting, febrile illness to respiratory failure and death. It manifested as a global pandemic in 2020 and has since claimed millions of lives. Only a few months into this pandemic, it became evident that the viral infection leads to a hypercoagulable state. Anticoagulants became a standard and important part of therapy while d-dimer became a useful test to guide the choice of the anticoagulant (therapeutic vs prophylactic Lovenox). What remains unclear is how viral pneumonia can cause hypercoagulability, especially when it leads to thrombosis in unusual sites such as the portal vein. Another important question that remains unanswered is the duration of anticoagulation after discharge in the outpatient setting. Our case report addresses both these questions with an intriguing patient who presented with abdominal pain as the chief complaint in the absence of any respiratory symptoms whatsoever.
Association of Employees' Meal Skipping Patterns with Workplace Food Purchases, Dietary Quality, and Cardiometabolic Risk: A Secondary Analysis from the ChooseWell 365 Trial.

Abstract Background Employed adults may skip meals due to time or financial constraints, challenging work schedules, or limited workplace food choices. Little is known about the relationship between employees’ meal skipping patterns and workplace dietary choices and health. Objective To examine whether hospital employees’ meal skipping patterns were associated with workplace food purchases, dietary quality, and cardiometabolic risk factors (ie, obesity, hypertension, and prediabetes/diabetes). Design This is a secondary cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from the ChooseWell 365 randomized controlled trial. Employees reported meal-skipping frequency in a baseline survey. The healthfulness of workplace food purchases was determined with a validated Healthy Purchasing Score (HPS) (range = 0 to 100 where higher scores = healthier purchases) calculated using sales data for participants’ purchases in the 3 months before study enrollment. Dietary quality was measured with the 2015 Healthy Eating Index (range = 0 to 100 where higher score = healthier diet) from two 24-hour recalls. Cardiometabolic risk factors were ascertained from clinic measurements. Participants/setting Participants were 602 hospital employees who regularly visited workplace cafeterias and enrolled in ChooseWell 365, a workplace health promotion study in Boston, MA, during 2016-2018. Main outcome measures Primary outcomes were HPS, 2015 Healthy Eating Index, and cardiometabolic risk factors. Statistical analyses Regression analyses examined differences in HPS, 2015 Healthy Eating Index, and cardiometabolic variables by meal skipping frequency, adjusting for demographic characteristics. Results Participants’ mean (standard deviation) age was 43.6 (12.2) years and 478 (79%) were women. Overall, 45.8% skipped breakfast, 36.2% skipped lunch, and 24.9% skipped dinner ≥ 1 day/week. Employees who skipped breakfast ≥ 3 days/week (n = 102) had lower HPS (65.1 vs 70.4; P Conclusions Skipping meals was associated with less healthy food purchases at work, and skipping breakfast was associated with lower dietary quality. Future research to understand employees’ reasons for skipping meals may inform how employers could support healthier dietary intake at work.
Within-Session Decreases in Operant Responding as A Function of Pre-Session Feedings

The effect of supplemental feedings on pigeons’ within-session changes in operant key-pecking was investigated. In different conditions, the feeding was either Purina Pigeon Checkers or mixed grain. The feedings were delivered 1, 4, and 12 hr prior to an experimental session. Responding changed significantly and systematically within sessions for all conditions. During the 1- and 4-hr pre-session feeding phases, absolute rates of responding were more suppressed and within-session decreases in responding were steeper when the reinforcer and supplemental feed were both mixed grain than when they differed. During the 12-hr pre-feeding phase, responding was unaffected by whether the supplemental food was similar to or differed from the food within the session. The results of the present experiment are generally consistent with the idea that habituation to the reinforcer contributes to within-session decreases in operant responding (e.g., McSweeney & Roll, 1998).
Robot kinematics: symbolic automation and numerical synthesis

This volume is a unified treatment of the field of robot kinematics based upon symbolic automation and numerical synthesis approaches. It focuses on visualizing the robot kinematic mechanisms, formulating suitable mathematical models for analyzing the behaviour of industrial manipulators, and deriving efficient algorithms for obtaining the solutions. Three topics in robot arm kinematics are analyzed: the direct kinematics that determine the Cartesian position and orientation of the end effector for the specified values of joint parameters; the differential motions concerning the differential relationship between the command variables in position and orientatoin of the end effector and the joint controlled variables; and the inverse kineamtics that determine the joint variables for a specified Cartesian position and oritentation of the end effector.
Meteorology of the Antarctic

The great antarctic ice sheets and the surrounding Southern Ocean environs are large heat sinks in the global energy budget. Their geographical position limits the amount of solar insolation incident at the surface at such latitudes, and the high reflectivity of the ice fields of the Antarctic continent reduces the effective heating (see Carleton 1992). There are pronounced differences between the north and south polar regions. The Northern Hemisphere polar region consists essentially of an ice-covered ocean surrounded by continental landmasses, while the Southern Hemisphere features a continental landmass about the pole surrounded by an ocean. The most significant consequence of the vastly differing polar geographies is that the meridional temperature gradients become enhanced in the SH, resulting in a semipermanent baroclinic zone surrounding Antarctica and in effect thermally isolating the Antarctic continent to a degree unparalleled in the NH. As a result, Antarctica experiences the coldest and most harsh climate on earth. The intensified temperature contrast also supports a large west-to-east thermal wind component. Upper-tropospheric westerlies, which circumscribe the Antarctic continent, are considerably stronger than their NH counterparts (Schwerdtfeger 1984, pp. 223–226).
Resilience Among Older Adolescents in Foster Care: the Impact of Risk and Protective Factors

This study explores the phenomenon of resilience among older adolescents in foster care. Data from 351 youths approaching the age of emancipation were examined. Resilience was measured by a composite score combining six domains: educational attainment, and avoidance of teen pregnancy, homelessness, mental illness, substance use and criminal involvement. Increased physical abuse, a history of sexual abuse, placement instability and delinquency in youths’ original families were associated with lower resilience. Non-white race was associated with higher resilience even after risk and protective factors were controlled. These findings highlight factors that contribute to resilient functioning and may be targeted for interventions promoting competence among these high-risk youth.
Communication: Antibody stability and behavior on surfaces

Antibody microarrays have the potential to revolutionize molecular detection in scientific, medical, and other biosensor applications, but their current use is limited because of poor reliability. It is hypothesized that one reason for their poor performance results from strong antibody-surface interactions that destabilize the antibody structure and create steric interference for antigen recognition. Using a recently developed coarse-grain protein-surface model that has been parameterized against experimental data, antibody-surface interactions for two antibody orientations on two types of surfaces have been investigated. The results show that regardless of attachment geometry, antibodies tend to collapse onto hydrophobic surfaces and exhibit lower overall stability compared to antibodies on hydrophilic surfaces or in bulk solution. The results provide an unprecedented view into the dynamics of antibodies on surfaces and offer new insights into the poor performance exhibited by current antibody microarrays.
Spectrally reconfigurable multi-spot trap on optofluidic ARROW chip

We demonstrate an on-chip spectrally reconfigurable multi-spot trap using an integrated multimode interference waveguide. This device is able to trap multiple particles simultaneously as well as transport particles along a channel in controlled manner.
Policy-Based Resource Assignment in Utility Computing Environments

In utility computing environments, multiple users and applications are served from the same resource pool. To maintain service level objectives and maintain high levels of utilization in the resource pool, it is desirable that resources be assigned in a manner consistent with operator policies, while ensuring that shared resources (e.g., networks) within the pool do not become bottlenecks. This paper addresses how operator policies (preferences) can be included in the resource assignment problem as soft constraints. We provide the problem formulation and use two examples of soft constraints to illustrate the method. Experimental results demonstrate impact of policies on the solution.
Causes of Fiscal Crises in State and Local Governments

Financial insolvency is a rare occurrence in American state and local governments. However, when it does happen, as in the case of Detroit's historical bankruptcy filing in 2013, the consequences for vital city services, public employees, and taxpayers can be devastating. This essay reviews existing and emerging research on the causes of government fiscal crises, paying particular attention to how social, economic, and legal constraints interact with the electoral incentives faced by public officials to create financial distress. It concludes by identifying a number of open questions that should guide future research, to help identify potential institutional and political reforms that can help avert future problems before they occur. Keywords: municipal bankruptcy; fiscal stress; public budgeting; state and local governments; public employees; pensions; urban decline; urban politics
Amorphous silicon-based minimodules with silicone elastomer encapsulation

We recently fabricated one and two cell, amorphous silicon based mini-modules encapsulated with a modern silicone elastomer. The quality of the encapsulation was found to be good. This paper reports details of this experiment.
USB3.1 silicon and channel design optimization using artificial neural network modeling

This paper adopts neural network modeling for USB3.1 Gen 2 high speed signal channel simulation instead of conventional response surface methodology. The paper demonstrates the co-design and optimization flow of USB3.1 silicon and channel parameters and how neural network modeling captures the complex response in a wide range with high accuracy.
Transport of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine by rat liver lysosomes.

Abstract Transport of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, products of lysosomal glycoprotein and glycosaminoglycan degradation, was examined in Percoll gradient purified rat liver lysosomes. Uptake of these two sugars was competitive and quite specific remaining largely unaffected by the presence of L-fucose, D-glucosamine, D-glucose, D-glucuronic acid, D-mannose, or N-acetylneuraminic acid. Kinetic studies revealed a Km of 4.4 mM for both N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine uptake. Temperature dependence studies revealed a Q10 of 2.3. N-Acetyl-D-glucosamine uptake was not dependent upon NaCl, KCl, MgCl2, or ATP/MgCl2 and was unaffected by 5 mM dithiothreitol or variation of buffer pH between 6.0 and 8.0. Cytochalasin B at a concentration of 50 microM effectively inhibited uptake of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine by 90% and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine by 65%. Prior incubation of lysosomes in 20 mM N-acetyl-D-glucosamine stimulated uptake of both sugars 3-4-fold, although it had no effect on the uptake of D-glucose. Countertransport was unaffected by neutral and cationic amino acids demonstrating independence from these amino acid transport systems. We conclude that lysosomes possess a highly specific transport system for N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine.
Comparative Enumeration of Lipophilic and Nonlipophilic Cutaneous Diphtheroids and Cocci

Swabbing skin to collect bacteria for enumeration revealed that a single washing or rinsing of the swab in buffer removed between 90 and 95% of the bacteria collected. Further removal of the remaining bacteria from the initial swab by repeated washings of the swab produced plate counts that showed nearly proportional decreases in the numbers and types of bacteria retained or eluted from the swab. None of the commonly isolated cutaneous bacteria was retained or eluted from the single swab in numbers that misrepresented measurement of their proportions present in the sample. Populations of nonlipophilic bacteria on skin when present were mainly gram-positive catalase-producing cocci. Diphtheroids when present were chiefly lipophilic. Media containing furoxone were selective for cutaneous diphtheroids. The concentration of furoxone used affected isolation and enumeration of the diphtheroids. Lipophilic diphtheroids from the stratum corneum were basically aerobic and anaerobic incubation reduced or eliminated this group from enumeration studies. Lipophilic furoxone-resistant aerobic diphtheroids from several areas, particularly the nasal passages, occurred in numbers inversely proportional to the numbers of staphylococci for periods up to 11 months. The cocci-diphtheroid relationships occurred independently of the total number of aerobic bacteria present, the transient appearance of yeasts or gram-negative bacilli, the required use of certain antibiotics by the subjects, climate, age, and sex.
Estimating Ideal Points in the British House of Commons Using Early Day Motions

This article develops a new method for estimating the ideological preferences of members of the British House of Commons. Existing methods produce implausible results due to high levels of party cohesion and strategic voting on the part of opposition parties. To circumvent these problems, this article estimates MP preferences using Early Day Motions (EDMs) as an alternative to roll-call votes. The Bayesian ideal point model for the decision to sign an EDM takes into account both policy preferences and signing costs. The estimates obtained have greater face validity than previous attempts to measure preferences in the House of Commons, recovering the expected order of parties and of members within parties. The estimates successfully predict voting behavior in the House of Commons. As with other Bayesian ideal point methods, this approach produces natural uncertainty estimates and allows for easy calculation of quantities of interest such as member ranks.
A Mesofilter Conservation Strategy to Complement Fine and Coarse Filters

: Setting aside entire ecosystems in reserves is an efficient way to maintain biodiversity because large numbers of species are protected, but ecosystem conservation constitutes a coarse filter that does not address some species. A complementary, fine-filter approach is also required to provide tailored management for some species (e.g., those subject to direct exploitation). Mesofilter conservation is another complementary approach that focuses on conserving critical elements of ecosystems that are important to many species, especially those likely to be overlooked by fine-filter approaches, such as invertebrates, fungi, and nonvascular plants. Critical elements include structures such as logs, snags, pools, springs, streams, reefs, and hedgerows, and processes such as fires and floods. Mesofilter conservation is particularly appropriate for seminatural ecosystems that are managed for both biodiversity and commodity production (e.g., forests managed for timber, grasslands managed for livestock forage, and aquatic ecosystems managed for fisheries) and is relevant to managing some agricultural and urban environments for biodiversity. Resumen: La formacion de reservas con ecosistemas completos es una forma efectiva para mantener a la biodiversidad porque se protege a un elevado numero de especies, pero la conservacion de ecosistemas constituye un filtro grueso que no incluye a algunas especies. Tambien se requiere un metodo de filtro fino para el manejo de algunas especies (e. g., especies sujetas a explotacion directa). La conservacion de filtro medio es otro metodo complementario que enfoca la conservacion de elementos criticos del ecosistema que son importantes para muchas especies, en especial las que probablemente son pasadas por alto por los metodos de filtro fino, como invertebrados, hongos y plantas no vasculares. Los elementos criticos incluyen estructuras, como troncos de arbol, tocones, charcas, manantiales, arroyos, arrecifes y cercos vivos, y procesos como incendios e inundaciones. La conservacion de filtro medio es particularmente adecuada para ecosistemas seminaturales que son manejados tanto para biodiversidad como para la produccion de satisfactores (e. g., bosques manejados para madera, pastizales manejados para forraje de ganado y ecosistemas acuaticos manejados para pesquerias) y es relevante para el manejo para biodiversidad de ambientes agricola y urbanos.
A nonlinear flight controller design for a UFO by trajectory linearization method. II. Controller design

For part I, see ibid., p.97-102 (2002). We present an attitude controller design for a 3 DOF flight control experiment apparatus, the Quanser UFO, as an application of the multi-input, multi-output (MIMO) nonlinear tracking and decoupling control technique based on a trajectory linearization method. The controller consists of two parts: a pseudo-inverse of the plant that computes the nominal control, and a linear time-varying regulator that stabilizes and decouples the tracking error dynamics. For regulating the attitude and the body rate tracking errors, inner and outer loop PI controllers are employed, which are designed by time-varying bandwidth PD-eigenstructure assignment. The presented trajectory linearization method for tracking error stabilization and decoupling is proved to be an effective method to achieve the "good" flying qualities by simulation tests.
Ongoing Debate over Cosmic Neighbors

If the Universe Is Teeming with Aliens .. Where Is Everybody?. Fifty Solutions to the Fermi Paradox and the Problem of Extraterrestrial Life. Stephen Webb. Copernicus (Springer-Verlag), New York, in association with Praxis, Chichester, UK, 2002. 300 pp. $27.50. ISBN 0-387-95501-1. Sampling the wide variety of theories about extraterrestrial life, Webb recognizes three categories of answers to Fermi9s question: aliens are among us, they have not yet communicated, or they do not exist.
Crystal Structure of Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) Allergen Ara h 5

Profilins from numerous species are known to be allergens, including food allergens, such as peanut (Arachis hypogaea) allergen Ara h 5, and pollen allergens, such as birch allergen Bet v 2. Patients with pollen allergy can also cross-react to peanut. Structural characterization of allergens will allow a better understanding of the allergenicity of food allergens and their cross-reactivities. The three-dimensional structures of most known food allergens remain to be elucidated. Here, we report the first crystallographic study of a food allergen in the profilin family. The structure of peanut allergen Ara h 5 was determined, and the resolution of the final refined structure was 1.1 A. Structure alignment revealed that Ara h 5 is more similar to Bet v 2 than to Hev b 8, although sequence alignment suggested that Ara h 5 is more closely related to Hev b 8 than to Bet v 2, indicating that homology-model-based prediction of immunoglobulin E epitopes needs to be interpreted with caution.
Distance learning success - a perspective from socio-technical systems theory

With widespread adoption of computer-based distance education as a mission-critical component of the institution's educational program, the need for evaluation has emerged. In this research, we aim to expand on the systems approach by offering a model for evaluation based on socio-technical systems theory addressing a stated need in the literature for comprehensive models for evaluating e-learning environments (Holsapple, C.W. and Lee-Post, A., 2006. Defining, assessing, and promoting e-learning success: an information systems perspective. Decision Sciences Journal of Innovative Education, 4(1), 67-85). The proposed systems model evaluates distance learning success from the instructor's perspective. It defines and develops measures for course quality, system quality and corresponding impacts. The model is tested based on the data collected from 548 instructors of seven universities in the Midwest region of the USA. The results suggest that the proposed multi-dimensional system flexibility scale is reliable. The course quality significantly affects both system flexibility and faculty perceived impacts of distance education. The system flexibility also significantly affects both course quality and faculty perceived impacts.
Extraocular muscle is spared despite the absence of an intact sarcoglycan complex in γ- or δ-sarcoglycan-deficient mice

Abstract Models of the dystrophin–glycoprotein complex do not reconcile the novel sparing of extraocular muscle in muscular dystrophy. Extraocular muscle sparing in Duchenne muscular dystrophy implies the existence of adaptive properties in these muscles that may extend protection to other neuromuscular diseases. We studied the extraocular muscle morphology and dystrophin–glycoprotein complex organization in murine targeted deletion of the γ-sarcoglycan ( gsg −/− ) and δ-sarcoglycan ( dsg −/− ) genes, two models of autosomal recessive limb girdle muscular dystrophy. In contrast to limb and diaphragm, the principal extraocular muscles were intact in gsg −/− and dsg −/− mice. However, central nucleated, presumptive regenerative, fibers were seen in the accessory extraocular muscles (retractor bulbi, levator palpebrae superioris) of both strains. Skeletal muscles of gsg −/− mice exhibited in vivo Evans Blue dye permeability, while the principal extraocular muscles did not. Disruption of γ-sarcoglycan produced secondary displacement of α- and β-sarcoglycans in the extraocular muscles. The intensity of immunofluorescence for dystrophin and α- and β-dystroglycan also appeared to be slightly reduced. Utrophin localization was unchanged. The finding that sarcoglycan disruption was insufficient to elicit alterations in extraocular muscle suggests that loss of mechanical stability and increased sarcolemmal permeability are not inevitable consequences of mutations that disrupt the dystrophin–glycoprotein complex organization and must be accounted for in models of muscular dystrophy.
Remarkable countercation effect in the reaction of organoboranes with enolates

Abstract 1 H and 11 B NMR evidence that, whereas lithium enolates derived from ketones do not detectably interact with triorganoboranes, the corresponding potassium enolates react with relatively unhindered triorganoboranes to form potassium enoxyborates often without any indication of dissociation is presented.
Testing a forecast model to predict movement of older Americans into retirement housing

Purpose – Expectations of an aging population increases the need for accurate models and reliable forecasts of housing demand in the later stages of life. This paper aims to examine whether the only published forecasting model predicts the actual movement of older Americans into retirement housing.Design/methodology/approach – A logistic regression model is used to test which older movers chose retirement housing using data from the 2002 and 2004 Health and Retirement Survey.Findings – Age is found to have a positive relationship with the choice to move into retirement housing, but the other socioeconomic variables are not significant and the model is not robust.Research limitations/implications – More investigation is necessary to identify the variables that will provide a reliable estimate of those choosing retirement housing. Segmented by housing type may be necessary rather than estimating total retirement housing demand.Originality/value – The paper tests whether a model previously used to forecast s...
Self-mutilation and Tourette's disorder.

Tourette's disorder is a stereotyped movement disorder that carries with it the risk of self-mutilation. Two cases are presented in which children with Tourette's disorder mutilated themselves. Possible physiologic mechanisms by which self-mutilation occurs in patients with Tourette's disorder are reviewed and treatment strategies are discussed. (J Child Neurol 1987;2:265-267).
Use of Premixed Parenteral Nutrition During a Phosphate Shortage in a Non-Critically Ill Population.

Background: Drug shortages pose prescribing problems to clinicians. During fiscal year (FY) 2014, an acute shortage of intravenous potassium phosphate (K-Phos IV), a common supplement in parenteral nutrition (PN), prompted the use of premixed instead of individualized PN to conserve K-Phos IV. Here we quantify the K-Phos IV conserved by using premixed PN and the associated cost differences. Materials and Methods: Costs of preparing premixed PN vs individualized PN of equivalent composition were calculated for FY 2014 at a single-center tertiary care facility. Quantity and cost of K-Phos IV saved were calculated based on the number of premixed PN prescriptions. Costs for FY 2015 were projected based on drug costs from July 2014. Results: During FY 2014, prescribing premixed in lieu of individualized PN conserved 16,440 mmol K-Phos IV but increased the cost of PN by $4080.45. However, increases in K-Phos IV cost at the end of FY 2014 resulted in premixed PN as a relatively less expensive therapy than indivi...
The presentation of indirectness and power in everyday life

This article investigates indirectness in the African American speech community. It argues that indirectness is an identity producing (and revealing) discourse strategy where participants launch, detect, and critique multiple meanings in interactions and narratives. In this sense, indirection goes beyond illocutionary force and is an integral part of the overall participation framework, including social context. More directly, this article focuses on the importance of the audience/witness in the critique of power relationships and interactions where bigotry and injustice are suspected. It reconsiders the interrelationship between politeness, coolness and social face and indirectness, performativity and topic formation in African American discourse. It focuses on the importance of the audience as both co-author and witness and argues that indirectness is a typical and predictable strategy in making meaning in everyday interactions. By focusing on interaction and discourses of power regarding race, racism and social class, indirectness can be viewed as a frame and code for marking and framing intentionality and challenging social face.
Variability of marine stratiform clouds derived from GOES-8 imagery

Marine statiform clouds (MSC) cover large areas of the globe that are visible to GOES. The operational satellite cloud retrieval algorithms are prone to biases when analyzing MSC, due to the often sub-pixel size cloud elements and radiative temperatures close to that of the underlying ocean. For example, the relatively large pixel size and calibration drifts in GOES-7 imagery have made it difficult to extract unbiased MSC properties using thermal threshold techniques. Here, we apply a novel retrieval approach to the two important MSC regimes which can be monitored well from the GOES-8 satellite: the Pacific Ocean just west of California/Baja and Peru/Chile. MSC cloud parameters for these areas are retrieved together with surface temperature and column water vapor in a temporally and spatially consistent manner that is insensitive to sensor resolution and calibration errors. Semi-operational analysis of GOES-8 imagery began in December 1995. So, the main focus is on assessing the diurnal variability of MSC. Following a brief description of the retrieval technique, we present initial results describing the full diurnal cycle of MSC fractional cloud cover and cloud top temperature, monitored using the single-channel version of the algorithm. In addition, we address the daytime variability of other important cloud parameters using a bispectral extension of the retrieval scheme. The results are also compared with other pertinent MSC analyses.
Flexural Behavior of High-Early-Strength Self-Consolidating Concrete Pretensioned Bridge Girders: Experimental Evaluation

A research program investigated the application of high-early-strength self-consolidating concrete (SCC) for precast, prestressed bridge girders. The SCC and conventional concrete (CC) in mixtures had a target 16-h release strength of 34 MPa (5,000 psi). Testing was performed to evaluate the flexural response and bond performance of the girders. This included assessing and comparing camber and deflection, moment-curvature, cracking moment, nominal moment, and crack development of prestressed bridge girders containing SCC and CC. In addition, river gravel and limestone aggregate were used to evaluate the impact of aggregate type on the mechanical properties and bond performance in the full-scale testing of both SCC and CC girders. Early-age characteristics, material properties, and field observations are also documented. Test results indicate that the flexural capacity and bond performance of the SCC girders are similar to those of the companion CC girders. Also, AASHTO equations for the nominal moment were found to be appropriate for SCC girder-deck systems similar to those tested in this study. The AASHTO expressions used were found to be appropriate for estimating the cracking moment for the river gravel SCC girder-deck system, but they slightly overestimated the cracking moment for the limestone SCC girder-deck system.