cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transition training for high school seniors

All youngsters are regularly exposed to milestone developmental transitions. Inadequately dealing with developmental transitions might adversely prepare adolescents for future transitions, whereas mastery of these situations might lead to enhancement of capacities to successfully cope with future transitions. The present study provided youngsters about to graduate from high school with graded crisis experiences to work through under circumstances that favored successful outcomes. Three types of coping strategies, including relaxation, cognitive restructuring, and problem solving, were provided to the youngsters to help them deal with the crisis experiences. Following participation in the 6-week program, participants, as opposed to controls, evidenced significantly higher scores on tests measuring self-efficacy and rational beliefs. When presented with a scene depicting a potentially traumatic transition at the end of the program, participants in comparison to controls used significantly more cognitive restructuring strategies. The overall findings from the study suggest that seniors about to graduate from high school can profit from being provided a preventive intervention that prepares them for dealing with transitions.
Climate Forecasting to Serve Communities in West Africa

The recent Red Cross experience acting on forecasts in west Africa provides examples of how climate information can be linked to decisions and serve development in low-income regions, and how climate and weather forecasts may become useful to communities at risk from climatic events, provided that the obstacles thwarting these communities’ access to and use of forecasts are clearly identified and overcome.
Differential susceptibility of white matter tracts to inflammatory mediators in schizophrenia: An integrated DTI study

Background The pathophysiological underpinnings of impaired anatomical and functional connectivity are not precisely known. Emerging data suggest that immune mediators may underlie such dysconnectivity. We examined anatomical brain connections using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data in relation to interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels among early-course clinically stable schizophrenia subjects compared to healthy controls (HC).
Vasculogenic impotence and cavernosal oxygen tension.

Aims of this study: To determine the associations, if any, of cavernosal oxygen tension with vasculogenic impotence. Materials and Methods: We evaluated penile cavernosal blood gas levels in men with suspected vasculogenic impotence during penile duplex ultrasonography and/or dynamic infusion cavernosometry and cavernosography (DICC). Patients with suspected impotence were evaluated from 1992 - 1996. Patient ages ranged from 24 - 75 y (mean 48 y). Eighteen men had arteriogenic impotence diagnosed by abnormal penile duplex ultrasound after injection of a vasoactive agent, and 23 men had venous leakage diagnosed by DICC. Results: Eighteen men with arteriogenic impotence had the following mean blood gas values: pH = 7.38 ± 0.01, PCO2 = 45.50 ± 0.94, PO2 = 65.17 ± 2.16. Twenty-three men with venogenic (venous leak) impotence had the following mean cavernosal blood gas values: pH = 7.41 ± 0.01, PCO2 = 42.26 ± 0.83, PO2 = 74.17 ± 2.51. The differences in PO2 were significant (P < 0.05). A subgroup of men with severe venous leakage had PO2 values that were similar to the low arterial PO2 values. Conclusion: The low P02 in patients with arteriogenic impotence, and the subset of men with severe venous leak impotence, support a global concept of low cavernosal PO2 as a mechanism for both arteriogenic and venogenic impotence.
Input-level-dependent approach to color error diffusion

Conventional grayscale error diffusion halftoning produces worms and other objectionable artifacts. Tone dependent error diffusion (Li and Allebach) reduces these artifacts by controlling the diffusion of quantization errors based on the input graylevel. Li and Allebach optimize error filter weights and thresholds for each (input) graylevel based on a human visual system model. This paper extends tone dependent error diffusion to color. In color error diffusion, what color to render becomes a major concern in addition to finding optimal dot patterns. We present a visually optimum design approach for input level (tone) dependent error filters (for each color plane). The resulting halftones reduce traditional error diffusion artifacts and achieve greater accuracy in color rendition.
Controlling Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Surface Adsorption with Covalent and Noncovalent Functionalization

Carbon nanotube applications in advanced devices often require reproducible control of the placement of individual single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT). Directed assembly using self-assembled monolayer (SAM) patterns provides a possible solution where hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces are created to attract and/or repel SWNT. In this work, control of SWNT adsorption onto SiO2 surfaces functionalized with 3-aminopropyl tri(ethoxysilane) (APTES) gradients is demonstrated using covalent and noncovalent chemistries. Noncovalent functionalization with anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and covalent functionalization with preformed aryl diazonium salts (-OH, -Cl, and -NO2) are utilized. Surprisingly, very low levels of covalent reaction (1−2 groups per 100 carbons) can outweigh the more prevalent SDS coverage in determining the extent of SWNT surface adsorption onto the silicon oxide surface. For aryl chloride, adsorption is enhanced, while the opposite occurs with the aryl nitro and aryl hydro...
Cardiomyopathy and embolization: risks and benefits of anticoagulation in sinus rhythm.

Systemic embolic complications in patients with cardiomyopathy are associated with significantly morbidity and mortality. Depsite the lack of prospective, randomized control data, the literature supports the use of left ventricular ejection fraction as an important determinant of the need for systemic anti-coagulation theapy in patients with systolic dysfunction. This review discusses the risks and benefits of systemic anticoagulation for patients with cardiomyopathy and proposes a tratment algorithm for its initiation.
Numerical modeling of mass transfer in the supercritical antisolvent process: miscible conditions

Abstract A mathematical model for mass transfer between a droplet of organic solvent and a compressed antisolvent is presented for conditions such that the two phases are fully miscible. This work is complementary to our recent study, which described solvent–antisolvent mass transfer at mixture subcritical conditions. Both models are applicable to the supercritical antisolvent (SAS) method of particle formation. In this process, solute particles precipitate from an organic solution when sprayed into a compressed antisolvent continuum. The antisolvent is miscible with the organic solvent, but immiscible with the solute. The mass transfer behavior of the droplets is thought to be a key factor affecting particle morphology. At mixture supercritical conditions, the antisolvent and solvent are completely miscible, and therefore no well-defined interface exists between the droplet and its environment. By defining an effective droplet radius based on the difference in density between the solvent-rich and antisolvent-rich regions, the extent of mass transfer can be tracked, and the effect of process parameters can be determined. Calculations with toluene (solvent) and carbon dioxide (antisolvent) show that droplets swell upon interdiffusion when the solvent is denser than the antisolvent, and shrink when the antisolvent is denser. Near the mixture critical locus, droplets exhibit greater swelling, longer lifetimes, and higher sensitivity to changes in temperature and pressure, compared to conditions removed from criticality. Examination of the time scales for mass transfer indicates that droplet lifetimes are significantly shorter for miscible conditions than for operation under bulk conditions corresponding to partial miscibility. As the mixture critical point is approached, from either the subcritical or the supercritical regime, droplet swelling decreases and lifetime diverges due to the vanishing of the diffusion coefficient at the critical point.
Experimental Study of Adaptive Control of High-Speed Flow-Induced Cavity Oscillations

This paper describes progress towards the development of an active suppression system for open cavity oscillations. A leading-edge array of piezoelectric zero-net mass-flux (ZNMF) actuators is used to suppress cavity flow oscillations determined from measured pressure fluctuations near the rear wall of cavities with length-to-depth ratios (L/D) of 5 and 6 at Mach 0.3 and 0.4. The waveform parameters of the actuator array excitation signal are systematically investigated using open-loop control. Closed-loop control using the quasi-static downhill simplex and the dynamic ARMARKOV adaptive disturbance rejection and generalized predictive control (GPC) algorithms are applied and compared to open-loop control. Up to 30% broadband reduction in rms pressure fluctuations over a 4 kHz bandwidth and reduction in multiple Rossiter modes are obtained and compare favorably with optimized open-loop sinusoidal control. Through the investigation of different actuator slot geometries, larger slots which generate larger momentum with a forcing frequency near the resonant frequency of the actuator showed the best performance for suppressing the cavity oscillation.
Stress coping styles and singing behavior in the short-tailed singing mouse (Scotinomys teguina)

Stress coping styles have been characterized as a proactive/reactive dichotomy in laboratory and domesticated animals. In this study, we examined the prevalence of proactive/reactive stress coping styles in wild-caught short-tailed singing mice (Scotinomys teguina). We compared stress responses to spontaneous singing, a social and reproductive behavior that characterizes this species. To establish proactive/reactive profiles for singing mice, we measured exploratory and anxiety behavior using an open-field behavioral test. We examined correlations between open-field behaviors and fecal corticosterone (CORT) metabolites, baseline plasma CORT, and stress-induced CORT. Mice with proactive behavioral responses in the open-field had higher fecal CORT titers than reactive males, but did not differ in baseline or stress-induced plasma CORT. We suggest that individual differences in CORT metabolism may contribute to this surprising pattern. Males that sang in the open-field were behaviorally proactive and had lower stress-induced CORT, indicating a link between stress responses and singing in this species. Overall, the data demonstrate that singing mice offer an interesting model for exploring how stress reactivity can shape social behaviors.
Determination of the limiting factors in the absolute phase noise of an L-band dielectric resonator oscillator

In an attempt to better understand the noise performance of a state-of-the-art two-stage L-band dielectric resonator oscillator (DRO), a single-stage DRO was constructed for comparison. The results of this investigation are presented. The discussion begins with a brief analysis of the design and temperature performance of the one- and two-stage DROs. The residual and absolute phase noise performance are discussed. The measured data demonstrate the low phase noise capability and excellent frequency stability of the two-stage, 2-GHz DRO. >
Inhibition of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1/2 prevents melanoma development and promotes melanoma regression in the transgenic TPRas mouse model

A number of human melanomas show hyperactivation of the Ras pathway due to mutations of the molecule or alteration of upstream or downstream effectors. In this study, we evaluated the effect of blocking the two Ras downstream pathways phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/Akt and Raf/mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase/extracellular signal–regulated kinase on melanoma development and regression in the TPRas mouse model. The inhibition of these two signaling cascades by topically applied Ly294002 and U0126 significantly delayed melanoma development and significantly decreased the tumor incidence, particularly when the drugs were applied in combination. Treatment with the inhibitors of established melanomas resulted in complete remission in 33% of mice and partial regression in 46% of mice when drugs were delivered in combination. These responses correlated with increased apoptosis and decreased proliferation both in vitro and in vivo and reduced tumor angiogenesis. In conclusion, this study strongly supports the role of the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/Akt and Raf/mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase/extracellular signal–regulated kinase pathways in the development and maintenance of Ras-dependent melanomas and supports the notion that specific inhibition of these effectors may represent a very promising avenue for the treatment and prevention of the disease. [Mol Cancer Ther 2006;5(12):3071–7]
Who Failed to Go Public with Best Effor ts Offe rings

This paper presents evidence on the failed initial public offerings that used best efforts contracts. Out of 732 best efforts IPOs attempted in 1980-84, 186 IPOs (about one fourth) failed to meet minimum sales requirement and were subsequently withdrawn. Offerings with greater uncertainty about their true value failed more frequently. The failure rate was not significantly different between “all or none” type offerings and “minimum and maximum” type offerings. Regional investment bankers managed the most of best efforts IPOs and the average underpricing of their offerings was smaller than that of offerings managed by submajor bracket investment bankers. It is noteworthy that bankers with a record of failed offerings did not seem to lose their future business and relatively small issuing firms continued to rely on these bankers to go public.
Making Progress: The Use of Multiple Progress Reports to Enhance Advertising Students' Media Plan Term Projects.

Since the AACSB mandates that students demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills, it is imperative that business professors do what is necessary to improve such skills. The authors investigate whether the use of using multiple progress reports in an Advertising class project improves the final product. The data results show that grades are improved and satisfaction with the class is enhanced when these multiple progress reports are utilized in a term project.
Generalized modal shock spectra within indeterminate interface

It is noted that the generalized modal shock spectra method had limitations on the degree of structural static determinacy of the spacecraft-to-launch-vehicle interface. The 'interface modes' is used here to remove these practical limitations. The governing differential equations are derived and then shown to be valid either for integrating the modal models of two or more substructures that have been previously obtained separately or for removing a substructure from a previously available system modal model. Emphasis is placed on the integration problems in the context of the generalized modal shock spectra approach. A minimum of information the modal response of a previously obtained transient analysis of the unloaded launch vehicle is exploited in order to define an idealized modal impulse function and derive approximate explicit expressions for an estimate of the bounds of the spacecraft response. In addition, a numerical model is solved in order to compare the present results with the transient solution.
Extraneous color affects female macaques’ gaze preference for photographs of male conspecifics

Humans find members of the opposite sex more attractive when their image is spatially associated with the color red. This effect even occurs when the red color is not on the skin or clothing (i.e. is extraneous). We hypothesize that this extraneous color effect could be at least partially explained by a low-level and biologically innate generalization process, and so similar extraneous color effects should be observed in non-humans. To test this possibility, we examined the influence of extraneous color in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Across two experiments, we determined the influence of extraneous red on viewing preferences (assessed by looking time) in free-ranging rhesus monkeys. We presented male and female monkeys with black and white photographs of the hindquarters of same and opposite sex conspecifics on either a red (experimental condition) or blue (control condition) background. As a secondary control, we also presented neutral stimuli (photographs of seashells) on red and blue backgrounds. We found that female monkeys looked longer at a picture of a male scrotum, but not a seashell, on a red background (Experiment 1), while males showed no bias. Neither male nor female monkeys showed an effect of color on looking time for female hindquarters or seashells (Experiment 2). The finding for females viewing males suggests that extraneous color affects preferences among rhesus macaques. Further, it raises the possibility that evolutionary processes gave rise to extraneous color effects during human evolution.
Evolution and analysis of mixed mode neural networks for walking: mixed pattern generators

This paper summarizes the results of the dynamical systems analysis of nearly four hundred continuous-time recurrent neural network (CTRNN) single-leg locomotion controllers evolved under conditions where sensory information was unreliable and in which the body the controller was embedded in could change its physical properties. The general principles underlying the operation of all the resulting mixed pattern generators (MPGs) are discussed. Several MPG operational features are explained and verified. Finally, discussion is made of future extensions of this research.
Ultrasound-modulated optical microscopy.

We demonstrate that microscopic imaging is feasible in ultrasound-modulated optical tomography UOT of soft biological tissues, using a high-frequency focused ultrasound transducer with a 75-MHz central frequency. Our experiments in tissue mimicking phantoms show that at an imaging depth of about 2m m, an axial resolution better than 30 m can be achieved, whereas the lateral resolution is 38 m. A long-cavity scanning confocal Fabry-Perot in- terferometer CFPI is used for real-time detection of multiply scat- tered light modulated by high-frequency ultrasound pulses propagat- ing in an optically scattering medium. We also compare the performances of various high-frequency focused ultrasound transduc- ers with central frequencies of 15 MHz, 30 MHz, 50 MHz, and 75 MHz. The comparison is based on two-dimensional 2-D images of optically absorbing objects positioned at a few millimeters depth below the surface of both optically scattering phantoms and soft bio- logical tissue samples. Our experimental results show that modulation depth and image contrast decrease with an increase in ultrasound frequency. In addition, we use analytical calculations to show that modulation depth decreases with increasing ultrasound frequency.
SILDENAFIL AND THE INTERNET

Purpose:: The Internet is changing the way medicine is being practiced and challenging our notions of the doctor-patient relationship. We analyze the development of online prescriptions and propose guidelines for the sale of sildenafil over the Internet.Materials and Methods:: Using MEDLINE, Medscape and Lexis-Nexis search engines we reviewed pertinent materials from January 1996 to July 1999 focusing on the keywords Viagra, † †Pfizer, New York, New York. prescription and Internet. The review included press releases, law review articles, case law, medical literature, pending litigation, proposed legislation, and federal and state statutes.Results:: Online prescriptions are an outgrowth of the mail order drug business. This development continues the historic innovations in communications and transportation that have enabled physicians to practice medicine over long distances while maintaining ties to hospitals and other specialists. While the sale of sildenafil over the Internet may be profitable and conve...
Electrical characteristics of dendrites and dendritic spines in intracellularly stained CA3 and dentate hippocampal neurons

Theoretical parameters of synaptic efficacy were studied in a detailed cable model of in vitro hippocampal neurons. CA3 pyramidal cells (n = 9) and dentate granule neurons (n = 6) were injected with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) after brief physiological analysis. The dendrites of these HRP-stained neurons were measured and approximated by a series of cylindrical segments. Specific electrical values of the neurons were calculated on a steady-state basis, using a cable analysis of the dendritic segments. The evaluation was expanded to include idealized dendritic spines. Average spine dimensions were determined by electron microscopic measurements. The density distribution of spines was patterned after reported Golgi measurements of similar neurons. The average electrotonic length of the CA3 apical dendrites was determined to be 0.69 length constant. These CA3 neurons were not well approximated by a single equivalent cylinder coupled to a soma (E-C model). The dentate granule cells exhibited an average electrotonic length of 1.12 length constants and could be adequately represented by the E-C model. Synaptic efficacy was estimated by the transfer of either charge or steady-state voltage from a spine input to the soma. Charge transfer varied as a function of the electrotonic distance from the soma to the input site. Voltage transfer, however, did not vary as a simple function of electrotonic distance. Voltage and charge transfer averaged less than 10% loss across the dendritic spine neck. These calculations, based on specific neuronal anatomy, predict that dendritic spines do not significantly attenuate steady-state electrical signals.
Hand and wrist involvement in calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease

The clinical records and hand and wrist radiographs of 51 patients with calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease have been analyzed, and symptomatology and radiologic abnormalities have been correlated. Characteristic roentgenographic features included cartilage and synovial calcification and arthropathy of the metacarpophalangeal joints and the radiocarpal compartment of the wrist, including scapholunate dissociation. Clinical-radiologic correlation revealed many asymptomatic patients with calcification and arthropathy and many symptomatic patients with normal radiographs. Thorough radiologic evaluation may reveal many patients with this disorder before the onset of clinical symptoms.
Overcoming the Curse of Dimensionality in a Statistical Geometry Based Computational Protein Mutagenesis

A computational mutagenesis is detailed whereby each single residue substitution in a protein chain of primary sequence length N is represented as a sparse N-dimensional feature vector, whose M
Applications of Financial Pricing Models in Property-liability Insurance

This chapter provides a comprehensive survey of the literature on the financial pricing of property-liability insurance and provides some extensions of the existing literature. Financial prices for insurance reflect equilibrium relationships between risk and return or, minimally, avoid the creation of arbitrage opportunities. We discuss insurance pricing models based on the capital asset pricing model, the intertemporal capital asset pricing model, arbitrage pricing theory, and option pricing theory. Discrete time discounted cash flow models based on the net present value and internal rate of return approaches are also discussed as well as pricing models insurance derivatives such as catastrophic risk call spreads and bonds. We provide a number of suggestions for future research.
Design and performance of an extremely low noise surface acoustic wave oscillator

The design, component selection, and performance of an extremely low noise (PM and AM) all quartz package (AQP) surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonator hybrid circuit oscillator are described in detail. The prototype 400 MHz hybrid circuit oscillator's measured white phase noise floor is -185 dBc/Hz for carrier offset frequencies greater than 400 kHz. This is the best result yet reported for a SAW resonator oscillator's white phase noise floor, particularly for a hybrid circuit oscillator, and is almost 2 dB better than the previous best reported result for a discrete component, printed circuit board design. The oscillator's flicker FM (S/sub /spl phi//(f)/spl sim/f/sup -3/) phase noise level at 10 Hz carrier offset is approximately -80 dBc/Hz. A UTO-1023 (Avantek) amplifier in substrate carrier form was used in the oscillator's feedback loop, and a buffer amplifier was not included in this prototype design. >
Final report on the FMIT control system

Abstract The computer control system for the Fusion Materials Irradiation Test Facility (FMIT) prototype accelerator was designed using distributed intelligence driven by a distributed database. The system consists of two minicomputers in the central control room and four microcomputers residing in CAMAC crates located near appropriate subsystems of the accelerator. The system uses single vendor hardware as much as practical in an attempt to minimize the maintenance problems. Local control consoles are an integral part of each node computer to provide subsystem checkout. The main console is located in the central control room and permits one-point operation of the complete control system. Automatic surveillance is provided for each data channel by the node computer with out-of-bounds alarms sent to the main console. Report by exception is used for data logging. This control system has been operational for two years. The computers are too heavily loaded and the operator response is slower than desired. A system upgrade to a faster local-area network has been undertaken and is scheduled to be operational by conference time.
Parallel radial basis function methods for the global optimization of expensive functions

Abstract We introduce a master–worker framework for parallel global optimization of computationally expensive functions using response surface models. In particular, we parallelize two radial basis function (RBF) methods for global optimization, namely, the RBF method by Gutmann [Gutmann, H.M., 2001a. A radial basis function method for global optimization. Journal of Global Optimization 19(3), 201–227] (Gutmann-RBF) and the RBF method by Regis and Shoemaker [Regis, R.G., Shoemaker, C.A., 2005. Constrained global optimization of expensive black box functions using radial basis functions, Journal of Global Optimization 31, 153–171] (CORS-RBF). We modify these algorithms so that they can generate multiple points for simultaneous evaluation in parallel. We compare the performance of the two parallel RBF methods with a parallel multistart derivative-based algorithm, a parallel multistart derivative-free trust-region algorithm, and a parallel evolutionary algorithm on eleven test problems and on a 6-dimensional groundwater bioremediation application. The results indicate that the two parallel RBF algorithms are generally better than the other three alternatives on most of the test problems. Moreover, the two parallel RBF algorithms have comparable performances on the test problems considered. Finally, we report good speedups for both parallel RBF algorithms when using a small number of processors.
Effects of Intranasal Oxytocin on Aggressive Responding in Antisocial Personality Disorder

The oxytocin receptor is important in several domains of social behavior, and administration of oxytocin modulates social responding in several mammalian species, including humans. Oxytocin has both therapeutic and scientific potential for elucidating the neural and behavioral mechanisms governing social behavior. In the present study, operationally defined aggressive behavior of 6 males with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) was measured following acute intranasal oxytocin dosing (12, 24, and 48 international units) and placebo, using a well-validated laboratory task of human aggression (point subtraction aggression paradigm, or PSAP). The PSAP provides participants with concurrently available monetary-earning and operationally defined aggressive response options, maintained by fixed ratio schedules of consequences. Shifts in response rates and interresponse time (IRT) distributions were observed on the aggressive response option following oxytocin doses, relative to placebo. Few changes were observed in monetary-reinforced responding. However, across participants the direction and magnitude of changes in aggressive responding were not systematically related to dose. No trends were observed between psychometric or physiological data and oxytocin dosing or aggressive behavior. While this report is to our knowledge the first to examine the acute effects of oxytocin in this population at high risk for violence and other forms of antisocial behavior, several limitations in the experimental design and the results cast the study as a preliminary report. Strategies for more extensive future projects are discussed.
The Arctic Ocean Spices Up

The contemporary Arctic Ocean differs markedly from midlatitude, ice-free, and relatively warm oceans in the context of density-compensating temperature and salinity variations. These variations are invaluable tracers in the midlatitudes, revealing essential fundamental physical processes of the oceans, on scales from millimeters to thousands of kilometers. However, in the cold Arctic Ocean, temperature variations have little effect on density, and a measure ofdensity-compensating variations intemperature and salinity(i.e., spiciness) isnot appropriate. In general, temperature is simply a passive tracer, which implies that most of the heat transported in the Arctic Ocean relies entirely on the ocean dynamics determined by the salinityfield. Itis shown, however, that as the ArcticOcean warms up, temperature will take on a new role in setting dynamical balances. Under continued warming, there exists the possibility for a regime shift in the mechanisms by which heat is transported in the Arctic Ocean. This may result in a cap on the storage of deep-ocean heat, having profound implications for future predictions of Arctic sea ice.
Using Climate Forecasts across a State’s Emergency Management Network

AbstractThis paper examines the application by emergency managers in rural areas of forecasts of El Nino and other seasonal climate events to (1) improve the understanding of how diffuse networks can help overcome the obstacles to the use of complex scientific information and (2) to widen the use of seasonal forecasts to improve flood management. The investigation draws on ethnographic techniques of observation and conversation with emergency management networks in the state of Oregon, interviews of nearly 50 emergency managers in the state, and two detailed case studies of Oregon counties that have used seasonal climate forecasts to improve flood management. Emergency managers are more likely to use climate information tied to a time-specific and place-specific forecast and to feasible actions, and when the emergency managers are part of robust professional networks that include scientific professionals as well as end-users of forecast information.
Tracking Violence: Using Structural-Level Characteristics in the Analysis of Domestic Violence in Chicago and the State of Illinois

Social disorganization theory proposes that specific neighborhood characteristics contribute to an increase in crime rates. In a disorganized community, informal social controls are not present; therefore, crime and delinquency flourish. Researchers have focused on these measures of social disorganization and the ability to explain public crimes. Recently, researchers have focused their attention to characteristics of socially disorganized areas and their ability to predict private crimes, such as domestic violence. This study contributes to the research on domestic violence and its applicability to social disorganization theory by examining domestic violence in Chicago neighborhoods and Illinois counties. Results indicate that different measures of social disorganization are significantly associated with domestic violence at different units of analysis.
On the Use of Spectral and Iterative Methods for Speaker Diarization.

This paper extends upon our previous work using i-vectors for speaker diarization. We examine the effectiveness of spectral clustering as an alternative to our previous approach using Kmeans clustering and adapt a previously-used heuristic to estimate the number of speakers. Additionally, we consider an iterative optimization scheme and experiment with its ability to improve both cluster assignments and segmentation boundaries in an unsupervised manner. Our proposed methods attain results similar to those of a state-of-the-art benchmark set on the multi-speaker CallHome telephone corpus.
Scrotal Recurrence of Paratesticular Rhabdomyosarcoma in a Previously Undescended Testicle 5 Years after Orchiectomy

AbstractA case of scrotal recurrence of a paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma 5 years after orchiectomy and chemotherapy is described. To our knowledge local recurrences have been reported previously only in the inguinal region. The patient had a history of orchiopexy, which may have contributed to the scrotal recurrence.
Reproducing Virtue: Quintilian, Imitation, and Rhetorical Education

ABSTRACTQuintilian does not offer an explicit mechanism that connects eloquence and ethics. This essay suggests that this omission is a consequence of the significant role that imitation plays in Quintilian’s pedagogy. This essay further suggests that the particular habits of mind that are cultivated through imitation are those that are associated with civic virtue, and it offers some ways that civic virtue might be cultivated in contemporary classrooms through a pedagogy that relies on imitation.
Job 19 in the Light of the Ketef Hinnom Inscriptions and Amulets

This chapter combines two of Bruce Zuckerman's favorites texts, the Ketef Hinnom inscriptions and the biblical book of Job. According to M. Fishbane, the author of the book of Job used the genre of incantations. The two paleo-Hebrew Ketef Hinnom inscriptions have received much attention since their discovery in 1979 because they constitute our oldest attestations of a biblical passage. The aggregate amount of data noted in this chapter suggests that ancient Israel has le behind more than Kaufmanns meager residue when it comes to how words in general (and incantations in particular) were thought to have eective power in addressing the dangers, illnesses, and evils they faced. Keywords: Amulets; biblical passages; book of Job; Bruce Zuckerman; incantations; Ketef Hinnom Inscriptions; paleo-Hebrew
Biosafety in Laboratories using Nonhuman Primates

There have been many improvements in housing and safety equipment, personal protective equipment, and techniques for screening for potential zoonotic agents in a NHP research colony, all of which reduce the hazards and risks associated with this field of biomedical research. Biosafety has always been an important aspect of working with nonhuman primates in a laboratory setting. In recent years the use of BSL 3 agents and Select Agents has increased, and an even greater emphasis has been placed on working safely with nonhuman primates in this type of research setting. While much has been done to increase the use of specific pathogen free macaques in research, there still remains a significant concern for working with these species due to the potential exposure to B virus. This chapter deals with the identification of hazards that may pose a risk to workers and includes the naturally occurring agents that have zoonotic potential as well as common experimental agents that may be encountered. A number of experimental agents that were not considered for use in nonhuman primate models but have been included due to increased concern regarding possible bioterrorist threats. Occupational health concerns are addressed and information is provided for the assessment of hazards and risks and methods for developing a model program for protection of personnel in the field of nonhuman primate biomedical research.
Spectroscopy of Impurities in Metals and on Metal Surfaces

This paper describes ongoing investigations of the excitation spectra of foreign atoms placed both on clean metal surface and in the bulk of metal host lattices. These systems are of fundamental interest for two reasons. First, the presence of metallic environment has a significant effect on both the ground and excited many electron configurations of an impurity. Here, our objective has been to examine the simplest accessible systems in order to explore the basic systematics of the interaction between an impurity configuration and the metal. For a given impurity we observe configurational stability over a range of host parameters, and, in a number of cases, an abrupt transition to a new configuration outside this range. Second, we have been examining the way in which the excitation properties of the host metal modifies the observed impurity excitation spectra. In all cases examined in this work, the impurity core hole is localized at the impurity cell, thereby localizing the conduction electron response also. The basic configurational spectra are smeared into continuum absorption by electron-hole pair creation associated with the coupling of the impurity configurations to the electron liquid.
Structural analysis of tris(tetra-n-butylammonium) hexakisisothiocyanatoyttrate (III)

The structural analysis of [(n-C4H9)4N]3[Y(NCS)6] (I) using single-crystal diffraction data and full-matrix least squares refinement has been carried out. The hexaisothiocyanate complex crystallizes in the centrosymmetric triclinic space group P\({\bar 1}\) (No. 2) with unit cell constants of a = 12.431(1), b = 12.866(1), c = 22.750(2) A, α = 90.78(1), β = 92.05(1), γ = 96.67(1)°, and Z = 2. The molecular unit consists of three separate cationic tetra-n-butylammonium groups and an independent hexakisisothiocyanatoyttrate anionic group in which the six thiocyanate ligands are octahedrally coordinated through the N atom to the Y central ion. Selected bond distances and angles are presented as well as the synthesis and peripheral studies of (I).
Design of Multiple Bandpass Filters with Integer Coefficients for a Microcontroller Environment with an Emphiasis on Applications in Wearable Tremor Analysis

Wearable computing devices are becoming an important technology for medical diagnostic and treatment assessment. Many such devices have strict power and size requirements and are therefore often limited to small, integer- only signal processing microcontrollers. It is therefore a significant challenge to develop signal processing techniques that provide the necessary application fidelity with strict implementation limitations. One of our research projects involves the use of wearable devices to assess the efficacy of treatments for Essential Tremor and Parkinson's Disease patients. Accelerometers are used to measure the tremor, and the resultant signal spectra are analyzed using digital bandpass filters to measure the amount of tremor in each of several frequency bands. This paper presents a design procedure for integer-only filters (suitable for microcontroller implementation) using repeated convolution and frequency shifting that is shown to produce superior filters than those designed by commercial filter design tools.
SiPM signal shape influence on detector time resolution

An influence of the SiPM signal shape on detector time resolution (TR) investigated. Simple method to improve the TR was proposed. The experimental results are presented.
The influence of impurities on the crystal structure and mechanical properties of additive manufactured U–14 at.% Nb

Abstract Uranium-niobium alloys can exist with significantly different microstructures and mechanical properties, heavily influenced by thermomechanical processing history and impurities. Here, the influence of Ti and other impurities is studied on uranium-14 at.% niobium additively manufactured using laser powder bed fusion. Two different metallic impurity levels were investigated and a Nb equivalent (Nbeq) composition is defined to represent the impurities. In-situ neutron diffraction during compression loading shows that increased Nbeq promotes the formation of γ°-tetragonal phase at the expense of α″-monoclinic phase, resulting in 2 × higher yield strength than water quenched α″ and a strain induced transformation to α″ with superelastic strains to 4.5%.
Food Image Recognition by Using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs).

Food image recognition is one of the promising applications of visual object recognition in computer vision. In this study, a small-scale dataset consisting of 5822 images of ten categories and a five-layer CNN was constructed to recognize these images. The bag-of-features (BoF) model coupled with support vector machine (SVM) was first evaluated for image classification, resulting in an overall accuracy of 56%; while the CNN model performed much better with an overall accuracy of 74%. Data augmentation techniques based on geometric transformation were applied to increase the size of training images, which achieved a significantly improved accuracy of more than 90% while preventing the overfitting issue that occurred to the CNN based on raw training data. Further improvements can be expected by collecting more images and optimizing the network architecture and hyper-parameters.
Cognitive testing to evaluate revisions to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) reporting form.

Abstract Introduction The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is the spontaneous (passive) reporting system CDC and FDA use to monitor vaccine safety. We used cognitive testing to evaluate proposed revisions to the current VAERS form. Methods We conducted in-person cognitive interviews with 22 volunteers to evaluate proposed revisions in a prototype VAERS 2.0 form (new VAERS form). We analyzed data using thematic analysis. Results Repeating themes included preferences for: brevity, simplicity and clarity; features to minimize time requirements and facilitate ease of completion; logical ordering of questions by topic and importance; and visual cues like color-coded highlighting. Interviews identified instances of discordance between the intended meaning questions (from the perspective of CDC and FDA) and interpretation by volunteers. Conclusions Cognitive testing yielded useful information to guide further revisions of the VAERS form. Cognitive testing can be an effective tool for public health programs interested in developing surveys and reporting forms.
Strategic Marketing Decision Models for the Pharmaceutical Industry

The healthcare industry is one of the largest industries worldwide. Healthcare expenditures constitute about 8–15% of the gross domestic product (GDP) of most developed countries. For example, in the United States of America (U.S.), healthcare expenditures made up about 15.3% of the GDP in 2003. Over the past 45 years, these expenditures have grown 2.7% faster than the U.S. GDP. The pharmaceutical industry forms a critical portion of the healthcare industry. The pharmaceutical industry comprises ‘‘companies that research, develop, produce, and sell chemical or biological substances for medical or veterinary use, including prescription, generic and OTC drugs; vitamins and nutritional supplements; drug delivery systems and diagnostic substances; and related products, equipment, and services, including distribution and wholesale’’ (Hoover’s 2006). In 2006, sales of pharmaceutical products in the U.S. were $274 billion. Today, about 10 cents of every health care dollar spent in the U.S. are spent on pharmaceuticals. Given the importance of the pharmaceutical industry, strategic marketing decisions such as those relating to research and development (R&D), product management, market entry, growth, and reaction strategies are critical to the success of brands and firms in the industry. The influence of product development
Marketing expense and financial performance in arts and cultural organizations

Nonprofit arts and cultural organizations use marketing to sustain viability. This study uses data from the Cultural Data Project to examine the effects of marketing on revenue in arts and cultural organizations. The current analysis demonstrates that total marketing expense is positively related to total revenue. Marketing expense used for fund-raising positively influences donation income, as intended, whereas commercial income is not affected. Alternatively, marketing expense for programs positively influences both commercial income, as intended, and donation income. The novel finding from this study is that marketing expense mainly targeting non-donor ticket buyers not only increases commercial income but also augments donation income in arts and cultural organizations.
A case of Choledocholithiasis Secondary to post Cholecystectomy Clip Migration

Introduction The commonly reported risks of a cholecystectomy include bile leak, bile duct injury, infection, bleeding, and retained gallstones. Approximately 1-2% of all patients who undergo cholecystectomy have stones left in the common bile duct (CBD) that require further intervention. The use of surgical clips to ligate the cystic duct has been routine since the advent of the laparoscopic cholecystectomy as the standard of care in the 1990s. One rare risk associated with the use of surgical clips is a migrated clip that can result in an obstructed CBD. Case description The patient is a 72 year old male who presented with sudden onset, severe, right upper quadrant (RUQ) pain with associated nausea and vomiting after eating fried food. His past surgical history was significant for an uncomplicated laparoscopic cholecystectomy 7 years prior for acute cholecystitis. The patient had been having intermittent RUQ pain for 2 years prior to his presentation and had undergone an esophagogastroduodenoscopy that demonstrated mild gastritis. The patient had no other surgical or procedural history. On examination, the patient had mild tenderness to palpation in the RUQ. Of note, his labs were significant for a white blood cell count of 11000, aspartate aminotransferase of 760, alanine aminotransferase of 427 and total bilirubin of 3.0. A computed tomography scan demonstrated a hypodense lesion in the intrapancreatic common bile duct with the morphology of a surgical clip measuring 7mm. Magnetic resonance cholangio-pancreatography confirmed the CT findings. The decision was made to proceed with an endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) from which a clip inside a sludge ball was extracted. The patient tolerated the procedure well and underwent a routine post-procedure course. Results and Conclusions Post cholecystectomy clip migration is a rare condition that can lead to choledocholithiasis and cholangitis. Predisposing factors that have been suggested include cholecystitis, postoperative complications and the use of an excessive amount of clips. It has been theorized that the mechanism for clip migration is secondary to inadvertent placement of clips in the biliary tree, clip slippage or subclinical bile duct injuries. The appropriate treatment strategy for choledocholithiasis secondary to post cholecystectomy clip migration is ERCP.