cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Smart 311 Request System with Automatic Noise Detection for Safe Neighborhood

The aim of the smart city is to provide the technological access for the automation of city. This paper examines an audio classification application based on Machine Learning for detecting urban noise that is one of the major problems in many cities nowadays. There is an urgent need to develop an automatic urban noise detection system in enforcing public security and safe neighborhood. The urban noise detection was conducted using various Machine Learning algorithms including Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), Long Short Term Memory (LSTM), Support Vector Machines, Decision Tree, Random Forest, Naive Bayes with 311 dataset and urban noise dataset. Our experiments validated that CNN shows the best performance (98% accuracy) compared to other ML algorithms. The prototype of the proposed system, Smart311, was developed for automatic urban noise detection in smart cities. The noise detection was conducted on mobile devices and connected to a real-time complaint system by sending a 311 request automatically.
Patient-level factors are more salient than a legislation prohibiting minors in bars in predicting unintentional injury hospitalizations

Alcohol related homicide, suicide and aggravated assault represent the largest costs for the state of Illinois. Previous research has examined the impact of some alcohol-related policies on youth alcohol use and alcohol-related harm in the United States but findings have been mixed. To our knowledge, no study has provided a detailed epidemiology of the relationship between the impacts of alcohol policies on unintentional injury in Illinois. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine whether a legislation that prohibit minors under 21 years old in establishments that serve alcohol is more salient than individual level factors in predicting hospitalization for traumatic unintentional injuries. A retrospective observational study of data abstracted from 6,139 patients aged 10 to 19 hospitalized in Illinois Level I and Level II trauma centers. Patient data from 2006 to 2015 was linked with the city-level alcohol-related legislation (n = 514 cities). The response variable was whether a patient tested positive or negative for blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at the time of admission. Mixed-effects logistic regression analyses were conducted to model the patient and city level legislation effect of having a positive BAC test result on hospitalizations after adjusting for the legislation and patient factors. After adjustment, patients aged 15 to 19 and white patients who tested positive for BAC at the time of admission had the greater odds of hospitalization for traumatic alcohol-related unintentional injuries compared to patients who had a negative BAC test result. However, odds of hospitalization decreased for female patients and for those with private insurance, and over time, but a significant decrease in such hospitalizations occurred during 2010, 2014 and 2015. The alcohol-related legislation of interest was not a significant predictor of traumatic alcohol-related unintentional injury hospitalization. Patient-level covariates were significant predictors of traumatic alcohol-related unintentional injury hospitalization; an alcohol-related legislation may not reduce hospitalizations for young patients aged 10 to 19. Therefore, to prevent underage drinking and consequences, interventions should target sex/gender, race/ethnicity and focus on both individual and environmental strategies.
Improving Physical Activity and Body Composition in a Medical Workplace Using Brief Goal Setting

Abstract Objective To evaluate the use of a wearable activity tracker and brief feedback in the workplace to motivate employees to improve activity. Patients and Methods A total of 135 adult participants were randomized to 1 of 3 groups: control group (blinded to their step activity), intervention group (received counseling based on their step count), or no step-tracking device group. Participants were recruited from June 27, 2016, through February 21, 2018. Results Most of the 135 participants were women (84%), with a mean ± SD age of 42.6±10.1 years. Most participants (96%) completed 11 of the 12 weeks of step counts. Comparing treatment groups at week 12 (end of treatment), the intervention group (vs the control group) had significantly more steps (644.8; P Conclusion Brief counseling accompanied by use of a step-counting device can improve workplace activity, which, in turn, can increase steps and decrease body fat, including visceral fat. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT02794727
Evaluation of admittance control as an alternative to passive arm supports to increase upper extremity function for individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

The degree of upper extremity active range of motion provided by an admittance control robot compared with a commercially available passive arm support for individuals with DMD who have limited arm function was investigated in this study. The reachable workspace evaluation was used to assess active range of motion provided by both devices. A visual analog scale was also used to secure participant-reported outcome measures. The admittance control robot significantly increased reachable surface area scores compared with the passive arm support for the dominant arm (Wilcoxon T = 5, P = .022, r2 = 0.263) and for the nondominant arm (paired-samples t test, t(9) = 4.66, P = .001, r2 = 0.71). The admittance control robot also significantly decreased participant-reported exertion compared with the passive arm support. Results of this study substantiated the benefits of admittance control for individuals with DMD compared with a commercially available passive arm support.
Jeffersonian Directions in Curricular Renovation

In a contemporary update to Jefferson’s spirit of curricular innovation and experimentation, the final chapter contends that the best way for the public schools to meet the evolving needs of American youth would be for them to implement a Jeffersonian-inspired reconstruction of educational purpose. The author maintains that the schools should “re-found” their fundamental civic purposes to better align themselves with that which is most revolutionary about the American Revolution. To achieve these ends, the final section of the book offers a K-12 Curricular Redesign. It highlights the need to restore the humanities to their place of privilege within the curriculum. It does so by reorganizing the curriculum to meet the evolving needs of American youth: the need to recover their civic selfhood, the need to become ecologically literate, and the need to be able to distinguish between truth and falsity in the age dominated by social media.
Observation of Collisions between Two Ultracold Ground-State CaF Molecules

We measure inelastic collisions between ultracold CaF molecules by combining two optical tweezers, each containing a single molecule. We observe collisions between ^{2}Σ CaF molecules in the absolute ground state |X,v=0,N=0,F=0⟩, and in excited hyperfine and rotational states. In the absolute ground state, we find a two-body loss rate of 7(4)×10^{-11} cm^{3}/s, which is below, but close to, the predicted universal loss rate.
Ultrafast-laser-enabled Polishing, and Waveguide Writing for Optics and Microchip Laser Fabrications

Ultrafast lasers enable non-contact, waste free, precise material removal. We have demonstrated single-digit nanometer precision polishing of optical material using a femtosecond laser. For ultrafast-laser-based waveguide writing, we study the underlying physics behind nonlinear optical dynamics during the femtosecond laser processing of crystalline materials. Unidirectional pulse propagation equation simulation is carried out to study the evolution of energy, fluence, plasma generation, and beam waist of a femtosecond pulse along the propagation direction under different energy and focusing conditions. Waveguides having a loss of 0.21 dB/cm are obtained. A Nd:YAG based waveguide laser with lasing threshold of 50 mw was demonstrated.
Operational Benefits of Remote Oceanic Meteorology Information Operational (Romio) Demonstration: A Survey-Based Analysis

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Weather Technology in the Cockpit (WTIC) program has sponsored an operational demonstration to provide satellite-based meteorological information to commercial flights in remote and oceanic regions. This effort is called the Remote Oceanic Meteorology Information Operational (ROMIO) demonstration. For this effort, the National Center of Atmospheric Research (NCAR) developed two weather products: 1) Cloud Top Height (CTH), and 2) Convection Diagnosis Oceanic (CDO). The CTH product displays cloud top contours at flight altitudes of FL320, FL340, FL360, FL380, and FL400. The CDO product displays hazards associated with the storm updraft, lightning, and overshooting tops in four intensity levels (medium, high, severe, and extreme).In this paper, we study the potential benefits of the ROMIO demonstration through survey analysis to measure pilots’ acceptance and the ROMIO-aided behavior during en-route convective weather avoidance. We created a post-flight pilot survey to have a qualitative measure of the benefits of using the ROMIO application and to assess users' acceptance of the new airborne information technology. The questions in the questionnaire were mainly categorized into five groups: 1) decision-making, 2) workload, 3) situational awareness, 4) efficiency, and 5) quality of information. We applied Wilcoxon’s rank-sum test to analyze Likert scale responses. The study includes 105 pilot survey responses. The results of this study improve our understanding of the potential benefits of new airborne weather information technology from the pilots’ perspective and allow us to identify potential areas for further improvement of the ROMIO demonstration.
Internet of Things Based Remote Sensing for Ornithological Monitoring

Biologists have long struggled to monitor the behavior of wild animals, though remote sensing technologies have allowed recent insights into otherwise cryptic animal behaviors. Traditional methods of animal tracking use radio- or GPS-transmitters that are expensive, large, and unable to track animal movements on a fine-scale. Radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology poses a cheap and unobtrusive solution to track activity of animals near antenna stations, though current data loggers face problems with energy supply, data format, and data access/storage. Internet of Things (IoT) holds promise as a tool to advance this type of zoological research through its integration of embedded systems, sensors, control systems and wireless communications. In this project we propose the structure of a system that combines RFID and IoT technologies to enable real-time tracking of feeder usage by wild birds in central Arkansas. The proposed system will replace existing data loggers and provide continuous, automated, and real-time data collection with minimal personnel oversight. The design will be superior to more expensive commercially-available units and will represent a breakthrough in wildlife monitoring technology.
The Impact of Ownership Structure on Corporate Debt Policy: A Time-Series Cross-Sectional Analysis

This study examines the influence of agency costs and ownership concentration on the capital structure of the firm. Of particular interest is the composition of equity ownership as a determinant of overall capital structure and the dynamic adjustment of capital structure to changes in the equity ownership. Time-series cross-sectional analysis and a set of refined explanatory variables are employed to better investigate changes in managerial behavior through time as well as across firms. Results indicate that the distribution of equity ownership is important in explaining overall capital structure and that managers do reduce the level of debt as their own wealth is increasingly tied to the firm. It is shown that institutional ownership and share dispersion cause adjustments in capital structure through time, as do other agency-related factors. It is also noted that the time-series component is important in resolving the conflicting results reported in prior research.
Religion in Vogue: Christianity and Fashion in America: by Lynn S. Neal, New York, New York University Press, 2019, ix-261 pp., US 28.00 (paperback), ISBN 978-147-981-359-9

As a teen, I frequented a national retail chain that catered to adolescents and specialized in what is more commonly known as ‘fast fashion.’ The store was a bastion for teen style, including kitsc...
Establishing Medicaid incentives for liberating nursing home patients from ventilators.

BACKGROUND Chronic ventilator use in Tennessee nursing homes surged following 2010 increases in respiratory care payment rates. Tennessee's Medicaid program implemented multiple policies between 2014 and 2017 to promote ventilator liberation in 11 nursing homes, including quality reporting, on-site monitoring, and pay-for-performance incentives. METHODS Using repeated cross-sectional analysis of Medicare and Medicaid nursing home claims (2011-2017), hospital discharge records (2010-2017), and nursing home quality reports (2015-2017), we examined how service use changed as Tennessee implemented policies designed to promote ventilator liberation in nursing homes. We measured the annual number of nursing home patients with ventilator-related service use; discharge destination of ventilated inpatients and percent of nursing home patients liberated from ventilators. RESULTS Between 2011 and 2014, the number of Medicare SNF and Medicaid nursing home patients with ventilator use increased more than sixfold. Among inpatients with prolonged mechanical ventilation, discharges to home decreased as discharges to nursing homes increased. As Tennessee implemented policy changes, ventilator-related service use moderately declined in nursing homes from a peak of 198 ventilated Medicare SNF patients in 2014 to 125 in 2017 and from 182 Medicaid patients with chronic ventilator use in 2014 to 145 patients in 2017. Nursing home weaning rates peaked at 49%-52% in 2015 and 2016, but declined to 26% by late 2017. Median number of days from admission to wean declined from 81 to 37 days. CONCLUSIONS This value-based approach demonstrates the importance of designing payment models that target key patient outcomes like ventilator liberation.
Storytelling and Workplace Bullying as Deterrents to Evidence-Based Innovation in Teaching: Nurse Educators' Lived Experiences.

AIM The aim of this study was to examine the impact of academic context characteristics, especially bullying, on innovation in nursing education. BACKGROUND Rapid and extensive changes in health care have prompted recognition of a need for concomitant changes in nurse educators' teaching practices. Nurse educator successes in meeting the demands of change, however, are challenged by constraints characterizing their academic practice settings. METHOD Narrative analysis structured the study. RESULTS The findings suggested that nurse educators' shared stories directed pervasive and lasting beliefs that discouraged innovation, fostered uniformity of teaching practice, and urged acts of bullying. CONCLUSION Reflective teaching practice, open communication, and teaching innovation may be constrained by workplace storytelling and the bullying behaviors it engenders. Recognizing the impact of stories told in nursing education settings might contribute to strengthening the uptake of pedagogical research, supporting leadership for and innovation in nurse educators' evidence-based teaching practices.
A bond-order potential for atomistic simulations in iron

A new semi-empirical potential for Fe based on the quantum chemistry concept of bond order has been developed. The potential consists of two parts: the repulsive short-range exponential potential, and the attractive potential, also of the exponential form, with a bond-order prefactor. The latter depends on angles between the Fe-Fe bonds, and uses the environmental parameter similar to that of the Tersoff bond-order potential for tetrahedrally bonded semiconductors. The bond order function (depending on the above environmental parameter), however, is of a more general form than that of the Tersoff potential. The new potential was calibrated using the traditional fitting to the Universal Scaling and the equilibrium volume and cohesive energy of BCC Fe. The introduced 'punishment functions' also directed the multi-variate minimization process towards minimizing the deviations between the calculated and experimental values of the elastic moduli C′ and C44, the energies of FCC and HCP Fe modifications, and the (111) free surface energy. With the total of 15 fitted parameters, the potential reproduces with only minor deviations the elastic moduli, the volume–pressure equation of states in BCC phase, the energies in FCC and HCP modifications, the BCC-HCP phase transformation under pressure, and the energy of the (111) free surface. Other tests of the new potential are being currently performed. The potential will be used in atomistic simulations of lattice stability, and deformation and chemisorption processes in Fe.
Temin, Howard Martin (1934–1994)

This article has no abstract. Keywords: Temin, Howard Martin (oncogenic or tumor-inducing viruses)
Nuclear envelope regulates the circadian clock

Daily rhythms of behavior and physiology arise from endogenous circadian clocks. At the molecular level, the circadian clock consists of intricate transcriptional and post-transcriptional feedback loops that drive 24h rhythms in a vast repertoire of basic cellular processes. The nuclear envelope, as a fundamental component of the cell, has been shown to function as a global transcriptional regulatory machinery. Recently we found that nuclear envelope proteins regulate the circadian clock both in the mammalian system and in fruit flies. One of these proteins, MAN1, impinges on the clock by binding to the promoter region of the core clock gene BMAL1 and enhances its transcription. Here we discuss about other potential mechanisms employed by nuclear envelope proteins to regulate the circadian clock and possible biological relevance of these modulations.
Dual action antimicrobial surfaces via combined nitric oxide and silver release

Recent research has demonstrated that silver sulfadiazine and small molecule nitric oxide (NO) donors kill a number of bacterial species synergistically in solution-based assays. Herein, we report on multilayered silica-based xerogels that release both NO and silver. Release of each agent was achieved by exposing amine-modified xerogels to high pressures of NO, and doping silver nitrate (AgNO3) into an alkyl-silane xerogel. Total achievable releases were 3.5 μmol cm(-2) and 1.7 ppm for NO and Ag+, respectively, with release of each agent controlled independent of the other. The NO/Ag+-releasing coating reduced bacterial adhesion and exhibited greater-than-additive killing against both Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. In contrast, cytotoxicity assays against L929 fibroblasts suggest that the combination does not cause greater-than-additive killing to mammalian cells. Such materials may prove useful in the design of biomedical devices prone to infection such as bone and surgical screws.
Blowing Up the Brand: Critical Perspectives on Promotional Culture, by Aronczyk, M., & Powers, D.

In “The Politics of Commerce: Shepard Fairey and the New Cultural Entrepreneurship,” one of thirteen new essays in the recent anthology Blowing Up the Brand, Sarah Banet-Weiser and Marita Sturken c...
N‐Bromosuccinimide–Hydrogen Fluoride

(NBS) [128-08-5] C4H4BrNO2 (MW 177.99) InChI = 1S/C4H4BrNO2/c5-6-3(7)1-2-4(6)8/h1-2H2 InChIKey = PCLIMKBDDGJMGD-UHFFFAOYSA-N (HF) [7664-39-3] HF (MW 20.01) InChI = 1S/FH/h1H InChIKey = KRHYYFGTRYWZRS-UHFFFAOYSA-N (reagent for the bromofluorination of alkenes and fluorination of dithioesters) Alternate Name: NBS–HF. Physical Data: NBS: mp 173–175 °C; d 2.098 g cm−3. HF: mp −83.1 °C; bp 19.54 °C; d 0.991 g cm−3. Solubility: NBS: sol water, acetone, alcohol, acetic acid, ethyl acetate. HF: sol water, alcohol, benzene, pyridine; slightly sol ether. Form Supplied in: NBS: off-white to yellow crystalline material; widely available. HF: widely available as aqueous solutions, or anhydrous solutions in pyridine (70% HF, 30% pyridine). Handling, Storage, and Precautions: NBS: eye protection and rubber gloves should be worn when handling this material. This reagent should only be handled in a fume hood. Absorbed through the skin; high concentrations are destructive to mucous membranes and the tissues of upper respiratory systems. HF: eye protection and rubber gloves should be worn when handling this material. This reagent should only be handled in a fume hood. Corrosive, highly irritating, and poisonous. Should not be stored in glass containers; will etch glass. Causes severe burns, which may not be immediately apparent. Extremely destructive to mucous membranes and tissues of the upper respiratory system. Pyridine solutions are moisture sensitive.
Witnessed versus Unwitnessed Random Urine Tests in the Treatment of Opioid Dependence

Background and Objectives Clinics licensed to provide pharmacotherapy for opiate dependence disorder are required to perform random urine drug screen (RUDS) tests. The results provide the empirical basis of individual treatment and programmatic effectiveness, and public health policy. Patients consent to witnessed testing but most tests are unwitnessed. The purpose of the present study was to compare treatment effectiveness estimates derived from witnessed versus unwitnessed urine samples. Methods We adopted a policy requiring visually witnessed urine drug screens (WUDS) and studied its impact (a single group, pretest–posttest design) on the RUDS test results in 115 male veterans enrolled in the St. Louis VA Opioid Treatment Program. Results The percentage of opioid-positive urine samples increased significantly following implementation of WUDS (25% vs. 41%, χ2 = 66.5, p < .001). Conclusions and Scientific Significance Results of this preliminary study suggest that random testing alone does not ensure the integrity of UDS testing. Outcome calculations based on random unwitnessed tests may overestimate the effectiveness of opioid dependence disorder treatment. (Am J Addict 2013;22:175-177)
Quantitative analysis of high-frequency oscillations (80-500 Hz) recorded in human epileptic hippocampus and entorhinal cortex.

High-frequency oscillations (100–200 Hz), termed ripples, have been identified in hippocampal (Hip) and entorhinal cortical (EC) areas of rodents and humans. In contrast, higher-frequency oscillati...
Characteristics and outcomes of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) in children and young adults

Background Pediatric and young adult nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is rare and traditionally associated with predisposing heritable or congenital conditions. Clinical characteristics, outcomes, and iatrogenic risk factors have not been well described. Objectives We sought to characterize clinical features, potential risk factors, and gaps in care associated with NMSC in children and young adults. Methods This was a retrospective chart review of children and young adults with squamous and basal cell carcinoma. Results We identified 28 patients with a total of 182 NMSC tumors. Of patients, 50% had predisposing conditions, and 46% had exposure to iatrogenic risk factors of prolonged immunosuppression, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, voriconazole use, or a combination of these. Of patients with iatrogenic risk factors, 62% developed subsequent cancerous or precancerous skin lesions. No patient was found to have chemotherapy or voriconazole exposure as a sole risk factor. Mean time to diagnosis of NMSC was 948 days with initial misdiagnosis in 36% of patients. The majority of patients underwent surgical excision. Limitations This was a retrospective single institution study with a small number of cases. Conclusions Physicians should be aware of risk factors associated with NMSC in children and young adults to provide appropriate counseling and early diagnosis and treatment.
The Capacity Region of a Spread Spectrum Multiple-Access Channel

Spread spectrum communication systems offer a number of advantages in multiple access situations, compared with alternative approaches. A major disadvantage of spread spectrum is the low spectral efficiency due to mutual interference from other users of the system. In theory channel coding can increase this efficiency to about 70% for asynchronous systems, and 100% for synchronous systems. The channel capacity, and hence the spectral efficiency, is obtained here for the general case of a synchronous OR channel supporting n users with different data rates. The form of the results shows clearly how the interference from one user can be traded for that of another. Some alternative models are also investigated, primarily to show the effect of changes in the model on the capacity region.
Gap junction blockade does not alter eupnea or gasping in the juvenile rat.

The role of gap junctions in the brainstem respiratory control system is ambiguous. In the present study, we used juvenile rats to determine whether blocking gap junctions altered eupnea or gasping in the in situ, arterially perfused rat preparation. Blockade of gap junctions with 100 μM carbenoxolone or 300 μM octanol did not produce any consistent changes in the timing or amplitude of integrated phrenic discharge or in the peak frequency in the power spectrum of phrenic nerve discharge during eupnea or ischemic gasping beyond those changes seen in time-control animals. These findings do not rule out a role for gap junctions in the expression of eupnea or gasping, but they do demonstrate that these intermembrane channels are not obligatory for either rhythm to occur.
Anytime Safe Interval Path Planning for dynamic environments

Path planning in dynamic environments is significantly more difficult than navigation in static spaces due to the increased dimensionality of the problem, as well as the importance of returning good paths under time constraints. Anytime planners are ideal for these types of problems as they find an initial solution quickly and then improve it as time allows. In this paper, we develop an anytime planner that builds off of Safe Interval Path Planning (SIPP), which is a fast A*-variant for planning in dynamic environments that uses intervals instead of timesteps to represent the time dimension of the problem. In addition, we introduce an optional time-horizon after which the planner drops time as a dimension. On the theoretical side, we show that in the absence of time-horizon our planner can provide guarantees on completeness as well as bounds on the sub-optimality of the solution with respect to the original space-time graph. We also provide simulation experiments for planning for a UAV among 50 dynamic obstacles, where we can provide safe paths for the next 15 seconds of execution within 0.05 seconds. Our results provide a strong evidence for our planner working under real-time constraints.
Improving esthetics by recontouring natural teeth

Abstract A simple procedure has been outlined for recontouring anterior teeth that can frequently prevent extensive restorative undertakings, yet offers the possibility of great esthetic benefits to many patients. If cosmetic reshaping of the natural teeth does not produce the desired results, the dentist can still resort to operative procedures with increased chance of success because of the harmonious environment in which the artificial restorations may be placed.
Heat Transfer Effects of a Longitudinal Vortex Embedded in a Turbulent Boundary Layer

The heat transfer effects of an isolated longitudinal vortex embedded in a turbulent boundary layer were examined experimentally for vortex circulations ranging from GAMMA/U/sub infinity/delta/sub 99/ = 0.12 to 0.86. The test facility consisted of a two-dimensional boundary layer wind tunnel, with a vortex introduced into the flow by a half-delta wing protruding from the surface. In all cases, the vortex size was of the same order as the boundary-layer thickness. Heat transfer measurements were made using a constant-heat-flux surface with 160 embedded thermocouples to provide high resolution of the surface-temperature distribution. Three-component mean-velocity measurements were made using a four-hole pressure probe. Spanwise profiles of the Stanton number showed local increases as large as 24 percent and decreases of approximately 14 percent. The perturbation to the Stanton number was persistent to the end of the test section, a length of over 100 initial boundary-layer thicknesses. The weakest vortices examined showed smaller heat transfer effects, but the Stanton number profiles were nearly identical for the three cases with circulation greater than GAMMA/U/sub infinity/delta/sub 99/ = 0.53 cm. The local increase in the Stanton number is attributed to a thinning of the boundary layer on the downwash side of the vortex.
The Transmission of Rossby Waves through Basin Barriers

Abstract The response of a basin with a topographic barrier to spatially localized and time periodic forcing is considered. The barrier, which almost completely divides the full basin into two adjacent subbasins, is offered as a model of either a planetary island in the wind-driven circulation or a portion of the midocean ridge in the abyssal circulation. The barrier completely blocks the flow between the two adjacent subbasins except for the possibility of flow through two small gaps at the termini of the barrier. The barrier has nonzero thickness, and scale-dependent lateral friction acts in the gap channels to impede the flow from one subbasin to the next. Bottom friction also acts uniformly on the flow in the basin. The degree to which localized forcing is able to excite large-scale motions in the adjacent subbasin is shown to be connected to the structure of the forcing and its frequency. In the absence of forcing and friction a set of full basin normal modes exist. The degree to which the forcing is...
Modeling of cyclic tidal rhythmites based on a range of diurnal to semidiurnal tidal-station data

Abstract Where individual tides deposit appreciable accumulations of sediment, cyclic tidal rhythmites can form that exhibit semimonthly tidal cyclicities. A number of modern analogs and ancient counterparts indicate the importance of such features for paleoenvironmental analyses. In this study, predicted, high-low, tidal-station data are used to simulate current speeds, which in turn are used to simulate sedimentation of tidal rhythmites. This modeling has been done to depict the patterns encoded in cyclic tidal rhythmites. In order to delineate the spectrum of different tidal regimes, the simulations are based upon a series of macrotidal, diurnal to semidiurnal tidal systems. Depending upon thresholds of relative tidal-current speed, only portions of semimonthly tidal cycles will be preserved within cyclic tidal rhythmites.
Efficient regeneration system from wheat leaf base segments

Efficient plant regeneration system from leaf base segments of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was developed. The factors affecting the callus formation and regeneration capacity of leaf segments of two genotypes; Bobwhite and Pavon 76, were investigated. The highest number of somatic embryos (SE) was obtained on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 2 mg dm−3 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid + 1 mg dm−3 naphthalenacetic acid (14.7 SE per segment). Highest frequency of embryogenic callus (96 %) and somatic embryo formation (24.3 SE per segment) were achieved in the first segments. The highest plantlet regeneration was obtained after transfer of embryogenic calli to regeneration medium supplemented with 1 mg dm−3 kinetin (6.3 plantlets per segment).
Effect of tracking strategies on the velocity structure of two-dimensional image sequences

We investigate the effect of different tracking strategies, such as local and full-field tracking, on the mean and variance of the image velocity field. We show that while local tracking reduces the velocity variability in an eccentricity-dependent manner, full-field tracking reduces velocity variability equally across the image. We test our predictions with digitized image sequences.
The preconditions for successful evaluation: Is there an ideal paradigm?

The dominant paradigm in evaluation research is undergoing serious challenge. This article explores the ideal role of evaluation in decisionmaking, the methodologies for conducting evaluations, the congruence between evaluation methodology and actual organizational behavior, and the relationship between evaluators and program managers. We conclude that although there are serious disparities between the ideal and the actual in each of these four areas, and especially in the congruence between evaluation methodology and organizational behavior, there is not likely to be a change in the dominant paradigm because it is difficult for practitioners to use the language and values of new organizational perspectives.
Synthesis of Monodisperse Biotinylated p(NIPAAm)-Coated Iron Oxide Magnetic Nanoparticles and their Bioconjugation to Streptavidin

We describe here the synthesis of 10 nm, monodisperse, iron oxide nanoparticles that we have coated with temperature-sensitive, biotinylated p(NIPAAm) (b-PNIPAAm). The PNIPAAm was prepared by the reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT), and one end was biotinylated with a PEO maleimide-activated biotin to form a stable thioether linkage. The original synthesized iron oxide particles were stabilized with oleic acid. They were dispersed in dioxane, and the oleic acid molecules were then reversibly exchanged with a mixture of PNIPAAm and b-PNIPAAm at 60 °C. The b-PNIPAAm-coated magnetic nanoparticles were found to have an average diameter of ∼15 nm by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. The ability of the biotin terminal groups on the b-PNIPAAm-coated nanoparticles to interact with streptavidin was confirmed by fluorescence and surface plasmon resonance. It was found that the b-PNIPAAm-coated iron oxide nanoparticles can still bind with high affinity ...
Details of the first-round retrofits at Twin Rivers

Abstract The first-round retrofits at Twin Rivers were directed to isolating the attic from the living area and basement, reducing air flow around windows and doors, and reducing heat flow from the forced-air distribution system to the basement. Details of materials used and their placement are presented. The design of the first experiment is also given. These retrofits were grouped into four packages and were deployed in phases over a single winter in twenty-four instrumented townhouses of identical floor plan.
The coincidence of measure algebras under an exchangeable probability

Abstract : This note is concerned with countably infinite product sigma-fields and their invariant, tail, and exchangeable sub-sigma-fields. Under an exchangeable probability the three sub-sigma-fields coincide as measure algebras (the theorems (1) and (7)). An immediate consequence is the Hewitt-Savage 0-1 law. A later section includes examples which by and large preclude extensions of (1) and (7) to probabilities merely invariant under the shift. However, at least one interesting conjecture of David Freedman remains to be settled. The results presented here serve to clarify and extend a remark by Halmos about power product probabilities. They also extend a theorem set forth by Meyer to the effect that in a unilateral countable product space, under an exchangeable probability, exchangeable and tail cr-fields coincide as measure algebras. The final section contains the answer to a question posed in the paper by Chung and Doob.
Clinical predictors and outcomes associated with acute return of pulmonary vein conduction during pulmonary vein isolation for treatment of atrial fibrillation.

Background Pulmonary vein electrical isolation (PVI) is an effective treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, recurrence of pulmonary vein (PV) conduction after ablation may limit long-term success. Objective We sought to determine the clinical predictors of acute PV reconnection during PVI and assess the long-term clinical outcomes associated with this phenomenon. Methods We studied all patients with AF referred for PVI between November 2000 and August 2004. Over the course of the study period, PVI of arrhythmogenic PVs was performed segmentally using a 4-mm tip (52°, 40 W, up to 90 seconds) or 8-mm tip catheter (50°, 70 W, up to 60 seconds). PVI was defined as entry and exit block using a multipolar Lasso catheter. All veins were resampled to confirm isolation after 20–60 minutes. AF control was defined as no AF on or off a previously ineffective antiarrhythmic drug. Follow-up data included transtelephonic monitoring and clinical data collection from patient interviews. Results There were 424 patients who underwent isolation of 1,347 PVs during the study period. Acute reconnection of at least one PV occurred in 211 (50%) of the 424 patients and 326 (24%) of 1,347 of the PVs targeted. The left superior PV was most likely to acutely recover conduction compared with the other veins (left superior 31%, right superior 26%, right inferior 22%, left inferior 24%; P = .03). Patients with acute reconnection were more likely to be older, have a larger left atrium, have a history of hypertension or obstructive sleep apnea, and demonstrate persistent AF. After a single procedure, AF control was achieved in 153 (70%) of the 213 patients who demonstrated acute PV reconnection compared with 148 (73%) of 211 patients without acute PV reconnection observed ( P = .52). Conclusions Acute return of PV conduction is common after successful PVI and is more likely to occur in older patients with nonparoxysmal AF, hypertension, a large left atrium, and sleep apnea. There was no significant difference in acute PV reconnection between the 4-mm and 8-mm tip RF catheter despite differences in power and duration of energy delivery. Furthermore, there was no effect of PV reconnection on long-term AF control after repeated disconnection was performed.
Phonology, reading, and Chomsky and Halle's optimal orthography

Chomsky and Halle claim that an orthography based on their underlying phonological representations (UPR) of lexical items would be optimal for English. This paper challenges three of C & H's basic phonological assumptions, that their vowel shift rule is valid, that the UPR is the only sound representation to be listed in the lexicon, and that derived words do not appear as wholes in the lexicon. A less abstract phonological representation level based on the conscious perceptions of speakers, the surface phonemic (SPR), is proposed. An SPR-based orthography has advantages which a UPR-based orthography would not: it is easy to learn and teach, it can be learned at an early age, and it permits rapid detection of rhyme. It is concluded that an orthography based on SPRs, and not UPRs, would be optimal.
Authors response to letter from Plotkin and Bellido.

We thank Drs. Plotkin and Bellido for their interest in our review article and their comments. This article was intended as part survey-type review and part conceptual synthesis. Our goal was to present some of the rapidly evolving knowledge about osteocytes with a specific emphasis on the physiological consequences of residing within the unique and physically constrained environment of the lacunar‐canalicular space. We believe that it is a novel and hopefully useful context for understanding osteocytes and their integrative functions in situ. This focus, coupled with space constraints for the review itself, meant that not all aspects of osteocyte biology received extensive coverage. We know very well the outstanding and important work contained in the papers cited in the letter to the editor, as well as other key primary papers and detailed reviews by these investigators on Connexin 43 and osteocyte apoptosis, disuse osteoporosis, and related areas. The omission was not intended to reflect negatively on those studies. We would also point out that we applied the same filter to our own work, citing only a selection of our own osteocyte papers.
First-year engineering students' self-reported knowledge of nanotechnology — The development of a coding scheme

Different types of instruction are used at the college-level for increasing students' knowledge of nanotechnology. Purdue University introduced nanotechnology to first-year engineering students in an introductory engineering course through two nanotechnology-related projects. The students were split into two groups. Group 1 students (8 sections, «=703) implemented only a mathematical modeling project related to nanotechnology. Group 2 students (6 sections, «=496) implemented both the mathematical modeling project and a simulation design project related to nanotechnology. Students were asked to complete a nanotechnology assessment at the start and end of the semester. In this assessment, one prompt asked students to describe five things they know about nanotechnology. This work-in-progress describes the development of the coding scheme for categorizing the student responses. Researchers had ten meetings to revise the coding scheme, the final meeting resulting in the inter-rater reliability (TRR) estimate of 82% One of the researchers applied the coding scheme to 2000 responses and initial results are reported here. The coding scheme will be used to inform educators about the impact of their nanotechnology-related projects and attain their desired learning goals.
The impact of the number of scale points, dispositional factors, and the status quo decision heuristic on scale reliability and response accuracy

Abstract This research examines the effects of the number of scale points and respondent characteristics on scale reliability and response accuracy and the mediating role of the status quo heuristic (SQH)—a tendency to select the same response category regardless of the question. The results of two studies in which data were collected from respondents indicate that people are more likely to use the status quo decision heuristic as the number of scale points increases and as respondent processing capacity decreases. Greater use of the status quo heuristic, in turn, increases scale reliability. However, it decreases response accuracy—an indication of construct validity. The results of a third study, using simulated data, reveal that the number of scale points alone significantly affects reliability, but this effect is small. Taken together, the results of these studies imply that differences in reliability and response accuracy across various numbers of scale points are due largely to characteristics of the respondent.
Delineation of tunnel-like-ventricular septal defects in young children by axial cineangiography

Four children with systolic thrills and harsh pansystolic murmurs in the second left and right intercostal spaces, radiating to the base of the neck, and suspected of having a subaortic ventricular septal defect and possible aortic prolapse underwent angiocardiography using axial projections. All demonstrated an unusual “tunnel-like” track into the right ventricle and no subaortic ventricular septal defect or prolapse. In our opinion, these physical findings suggest this abnormality and that axial angiography clearly delineates the lesion.
Flight Dynamics and Control Authority of Flap-Controlled Open Boxes

The effectiveness of open-box micro air vehicles to deliver light, small payloads of high importance to specific ground coordinates is investigated through dynamic simulation. The open box exhibits interesting and varied flight dynamic behavior as key design parameters are changed. For example, the open box can achieve a coning behavior, a corkscrewing behavior, or glide much like a conventional aircraft to the ground by merely shifting the mass center location. The four rear flaps of the air vehicle can be used to control the box and affords the aircraft greater control authority than dispersion caused by typical atmospheric winds. This control mechanism can also be used as a braking system, which can greatly arrest the descent rate before ground impact. These dynamic qualities make the open box a promising airdrop vehicle which can cut through atmospheric winds towards the target before decelerating and gently landing.
A test of the Self-Help Model: Learned response to chronic illness experience

The purpose of this study was to increase understanding of the essential dynamics of learned response to chronic illness experience. A Self-Help Model was tested with 396 subjects with diagnoses of rheumatoid arthritis or arthritis-related conditions. Self-Help Model variables include disease characteristics, background inputs, monitoring, severity of illness, dependency, uncertainty, enabling skill, self-help, and life quality. Severity of illness, disease characteristics, background inputs, and monitoring explained 24% of the variance in dependency and 40% of the variance in uncertainty. Monitoring was the strongest contributor to explanation of enabling skill; however, only a small amount of the variance in enabling skill was explained, adjusted R2 = .15. Enabling skill was the strongest predictor of self-help, beta = .42, minimizing the influence of uncertainty, beta = -.23 and dependency, beta = -.10, on self-help, R2 = .55. Self-help was strongly related to life quality, beta = .62. Self-help and uncertainty explained 49% of the variance in life quality. Results suggest a basis for interventions that reduce dependency and uncertainty and enhance enabling skill.
Immune response of congenitally thymusless mice to heterologous erythrocytes.

SummaryHemagglutinin and hemolysin production by congenitally thymusless (“nude”) mice in response to intraperitoneal injection of 107, 108, 109, or 1010 sheep erythrocytes (SE) was significantly lower than in normal littermate controls. The plaque-forming cell response of nudes was also impaired. Rosette-forming cells (RFC) were observed in unimmunized nude mice. Injection of SE did not result in the formation of increased numbers of RFC in nude mice, whereas littermate controls responded strongly.The authors express appreciation to R. C. Roberts and D. S. Falconer for providing the breeding nucleus of mice carrying nude and to Mrs. Billie Welty for excellent technical assistance.
Effect of Coefficient of Thermal Expansion Test Variability on Concrete Pavement Performance as Predicted by Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide

The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of concrete is a property that can affect the performance of the pavement and its service life and is one of the most important inputs in the Mechanistic—Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG). The CTE can be either estimated or measured in the laboratory. The test method used to determine this property is AASHTO TP 60, still a provisional test method and not yet evaluated for its precision. CTEs of more than 1,800 concrete specimens were measured at the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center. The specimens included cylinders that were cast in the laboratory as well as field cores obtained from the Long-Term Pavement Performance pavement sections. Approximately 150 of the specimens were tested individually several times for assessment of repeatability of the test method. An analysis is presented of test differences observed, as is a sensitivity analysis of the CTE test variability on predicted performance based on the MEPDG. The differences in predicted interna...