cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tailoring plasmonic properties of gold nanohole arrays for surface-enhanced Raman scattering

The wide plasmonic tuning range of nanotriangle and nanohole array patterns fabricated by nanosphere lithography makes them promising in surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensors. Unfortunately, it is challenging to optimize these patterns for SERS sensing because their optical response is a complex mixture of localized surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and propagating surface plasmon polariton (SPP). In this paper, transmission and reflection measurements are combined with finite difference time domain simulations to identify and separate each plasmonic mode, discerning which resonance leads to the electromagnetic field enhancement. The SERS enhancement is found to be dominated by the absorption, which is shifted from the transmission and reflection dips usually used as tuning points, and by the ‘gap’ defects formed within the pattern. These effects have different spectral and geometric dependences, forming two optimization curves which can be used to predict the best performance for a given excitation wavelength. The developed model is verified with experimental SERS measurements for several nanohole sizes and periodicities, and then used to give optimal fabrication parameters for a range of measurement conditions. The results will promote the application of two-dimensional plasmonic nanoarrays in SERS sensors.
Factors Affecting Wealth Accumulation in Hispanic Households: A Comparative Analysis of Stock and Home Asset Utilization.

This research addresses differences between Hispanic (N = 2,333) and White (N = 15,521) households in the ownership and allocation of two representative measures of wealth accumulation, stock and homeownership. Using data from the 2008 panel of the Survey of Income and Program Participation, this research estimates a two-stage interaction model to examine differences in both asset ownership and asset allocation decisions. This article established two important findings: (1) results indicate that the negative effects of Hispanic ethnic identity on asset ownership were the result of disadvantaged positions of Hispanic households in the distribution of financial, immigration-related, and demographic characteristics, and (2) once ownership was controlled for, there is no difference in the holdings of stock allocation or home equity between Hispanic and White households.
On predictivity and efficiency

This paper studies some of the algebraic properties of Throckmorton's (1968) indices of predictivity and efficiency. Certain interpretations of predictivity comparisons are considered, and the relevance for evolutionary taxonomy of measures of correlation between similarity indices is discussed. Methods for inferring the relative taxonomic usefulness of characters have been of considerable interest to evolutionary taxonomists. The measures that have been proposed fall into two general categories. The compatibility of Camin and Sokal (1965), the consistency of Kluge and Farris (1969), and the unit character consistency of Farris (1969a) are alike in that they all measure the agreement of characters with dendrograms of some sort. These tree oriented or hierarchic (Farris, 1969a) measures may be distinguished from measures of phenetic correlation (Farris, 1969a), which are by definition indices that do not depend on dendrograms of any kind. Throckmorton (1968) has recently proposed predictivity, a new measure of phenetic correlation, and used it to draw conclusions on the taxonomic relevance of some broad classes of character states. While Throckmorton's measure, as he used it, undoubtedly provided descriptive information about his data, it is not clear to, us from Throckmorton's exposition whether he intended his statistic for more general usage. Further, while many of Throckmorton's conclusions are valid when interpreted narrowly as descriptive statements, they are often worded in ways that, to us at least, seem to hint at much broader generalities. We have undertaken this study in an attempt to define more precisely just which properties of taxonomic data are reflected by Throckmorton's statistic, and in just what ways values of this statistic may be interpreted. This paper is devoted to discussion of some of the properties of Throckmorton's measure and to consideration of the merits in the context of evolutionary taxonomy of indices of phenetic correlation in general. Throckmorton's discussion was based on a particular similarity measure, concordance (see Throckmorton, 1968). For simplicity we shall initially limit our discussion to an analysis of concordance values. The reader should not take this restriction as an endorsement of concordance as a measure of similarity for evolutionary applications. We have noted elsewhere (Farris, Kluge, and Eckhardt, 1970) that concordance has a quite narrowly circumscribed application in phylogenetic studies.
Detection of Viral DNA Sequences in Adenovirus-Transformed Cells by In Situ Hybridization

Cytological preparations of cells transformed by members of three groups of human adenoviruses, adenovirus 12, 7, and 2, were annealed with radioactive complementary RNA (cRNA) (4 x 10(7) to 4.5 x 10(7) dpm/mug) prepared by copying viral DNA with the Escherichia coli DNA-directed RNA polymerase. These in situ hybridizations detected adenovirus-specific DNA sequences in interphase nuclei when transformed cells were annealed with homologous viral cRNA, but not with heterologous viral cRNA. The highest autoradiographic grain counts were found over adenovirus 7-transformed cell nuclei, next over adenovirus 12-, and the lowest over adenovirus 2-transformed cell nuclei. This is the same order as found by reassociation kinetic measurements (K. Fujinaga and M. Green, unpublished data).
Cancellation of coherent artifacts in optical coherence tomography imaging

Coherent artifacts in optical coherence tomography (OCT) images can severely degrade image quality by introducing false targets if no targets are present at the artifact locations. Coherent artifacts can also add constructively or destructively to the targets that are present at the artifact locations. This constructive or destructive interference will result in cancellation of the true targets or in display of incorrect echo amplitudes of the targets. We introduce the use of a nonlinear deconvolution algorithm, CLEAN, to cancel coherent artifacts in OCT images of extracted human teeth. The results show that CLEAN can reduce the coherent artifacts to the noise background, sharpen the air–enamel and enamel–dentin interfaces, and improve the image contrast.
A VALIDATION OF TWO MOTION SENSORS IN THE PREDICTION OF CHILD AND ADULT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS

The authors sought to assess the reliability and validity of two motion activity sensors in the prediction of observed physical activity levels in adults and children by means of two studies at North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota. In study 1, 50 adults were observed in fall 1984 for one hour of recreational activity while they simultaneously wore two motion sensors: an activity counter (i.e., LSI Moving Activity Monitor (GMM Electronics Inc., Verona, PA)) and an electronic accelerometer (i.e., Caltrac Personal Activity Computer (Hemokinetics, Inc., Vienna, VA)). The results indicated that both the activity counter (r = 0.65) and the accelerometer (r = 0.69) strongly correlated to observed physical activity levels. The two motion sensors also were highly correlated to each other (r = 0.83). A correlation of self-reports of time spent in various types of physical activity to observed physical activity ranged from 0.21 to 0.88 (mean = 0.60). Study 2 evaluated these same two sensors in winter 1984 in 30 preschool children observed in a freeplay situation. Results of this study indicated very modest relationships between observed physical activity levels and accelerometer readings (r = 0.35) and activity counter readings (r = 0.40). The two motion sensors intercorrelated at very modest levels (r = 0.42). The results indicate that while both motion sensors closely corresponded to observed levels of physical activity in adults, neither sensor correlated substantively to observed levels of physical activity in children. Implications for validating and utilizing these sensors in epidemiologic research are discussed.
Linking the First Week of Class to End-of-Term Satisfaction: Using a Reciprocal Interview Activity to Create an Active and Comfortable Classroom

We present a reciprocal student-instructor interview activity as a means for establishing a positive classroom environment on the first day of class. This activity allows the instructor to clearly and concisely communicate the course practicalities to students while simultaneously providing students with the opportunity to share their course-related goals and concerns in an open and supportive environment. Previous research suggests that this activity is associated with many positive short-term outcomes, including initial changes in student comfort in the classroom. This article provides instructors with detailed information for conducting the activity and explores the degree to which changes in comfort are related to end-of-term student satisfaction. Data were collected from 77 students before and after they participated in the reciprocal interview activity during the initial class sessions and at the end of the term. Changes in student comfort were positively correlated with student satisfaction with th...
Pattern Ordering Inference: Part I

In this chapter, we discuss the mechanism for ordering patterns from the perspective of probabilistic inference. Two particular characteristics of pattern ordering from the perspective of probabilistic inference are worth of noting. First, it is model based. A model is an embodiment of patterns and is a compact representation of a probability structure for pattern ordering. This structure is the basis of an inference mechanism for deriving pattern ordering. Since each pattern has a probability measure defined by the model, each pattern can be ranked against each other upon the presence or absence of any observation(s).
Surface-phonon polariton mediated radiative transfer between two dielectric spheres

Surface phonon polariton mediated radiative transfer between two spheres of equal radii R and minimum gap d has been shown to scale as R/d as d/R → 0. A modified form of the proximity approximation to predict near-field radiative transfer between two spheres has also been discussed.
Reservations as Devices for Avoiding International Obligations

While states have multiplied their general obligations by joining international organizations, they have concurrently devised reservations to escape regulation in specific cases that may arise subsequently. The practice of giving with one hand while taking with the other has fostered extended jurisdictional debates, but these precautions that have been taken to avoid obligations and this resort to legal arguments have been generally unsuccessful. Although the pleas for state discretion have usually been expertly presented, they have been based on norms that have been replaced by new international norms or overridden (as have property rights in the face of personal liberties) by an expanded international organization membership which has reordered the hierarchy of international values. One may dislike this course of events, but this does not change the fact that world opinion expressed in a vote in an international organization carries considerable weight.
Recoverable shear measurements in a parallel plate rheometerz

A parallel plate rheometer has been devised which permits measurements of shear stresses of 102 to 105 dynes/sq.cm. and shear rates of 10−5 to 1 sec.−1. A linear, air lubricated bearing is used to align the apparatus, and a linear variable differential transformer is used to sense changes in position. With a sample of polyisobutylene and with several samples of poly(dimethyl siloxane), it has been established that a Hookean range exists for each sample at low stresses. Hooke's law in shear states that the modulus is independent of stress, where the modulus is defined as the ratio of the shear stress in steady, creeping flow to the strain which can be recovered after the stress is removed. Other conclusions supported by the present work are that the Hookean range does not extend to stresses which are high enough to cause non-Newtonian flow, that the modulus decreases with increasing molecular weight although not in direct proportion, and that a sample with a broad molecular weight distribution has a lower modulus than one with a narrow distribution.
Observation of unique structures between the endosperm and embryo in seeds of Glycine max

Openings are present on the inside surface of the endosperm cell wall adjacent to the developing cotyledon. The objective of this study was to determine if the openings were present during seed growth, maturation and imbibition by observing the inside surface of the endosperm with low temperature scanning electron microscopy. The openings were found to be present throughout seed development, maturation and imbibition. The openings were not formed by attachment to the cotyledon surface. However, the inner surface of the endosperm was occasionally attached to the surface of the embryo. At seed maturity, outgrowths on the cotyledon cell wall surface were embedded in the cell wall of the inside surface of the endosperm. These structures were also observed in the imbibing seed. These points of contact between the endosperm and embryo of soybean seeds may align the embryo, endosperm and seed coat during growth, desiccation and imbibition.
On a class of conformal metrics arising in the work of Seiberg and Witten

We examine a class of conformal metrics arising in the "N = 2 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory" of Seiberg and Witten. We provide several alternate characterizations of this class of metrics and proceed to examine issues of existence and boundary behavior and to parameterize the collection of Seiberg-Witten metrics with isolated non-essential singularities on a fixed compact Riemann surface. In consequence of these results, the Riemann sphere b does not admit a Seiberg-Witten metric, but for all >0 there is a conformal metric on b C of regularityC 2 which is Seiberg-Witten off of a finite set.
On-Engine Demonstration of Micro-Pilot Ignition System for a Cooper-Bessemer GMV-4TF

This investigation assesses the benefits of retrofitting a diesel micro-pilot ignition system on a Cooper-Bessemer GMV-4TF two-stroke cycle natural gas engine with a 14” (36 cm) bore and a 14” (36 cm) stroke. The pilot fuel injectors are mounted through an adaptor in one of the spark plug holes in a set of dual-spark plug heads. A high pressure, common-rail, diesel fuel delivery system is employed and customizable power electronics control the current signal to the pilot injectors. Pilot fuel is supplied by a variable displacement, high-pressure pump that is driven with an electric motor. Software is developed that interfaces with the pump and controls and monitors the fuel rail pressure. Micro-pilot quantities from 11.5 to 20 mm3 (.0007 to .0012 in3 ) are explored at rail pressures from 200 to 1400 bar (2,900 to 20,300 psig). Three independent variables, pilot ignition timing, pilot fuel quantity, and pilot fuel rail pressure, are manipulated. An optimization sequence is performed to minimize total fuel consumption.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
The distribution and colonization of soybean by Rhizoctonia solani AG11 in fields rotated with rice

Abstract From 2009 to 2012, a spatial study was conducted on soybean fields undergoing rice and soybean rotations to determine the distribution and importance of Rhizoctonia spp. Fields were sampled for soil populations by toothpick-baiting and plants were collected at growth stage V3 from GPS sampling points placed on either side of the rice levee system from the previous rice cropping year. Anastomosis group 11 (AG11) of Rhizoctonia solani, a group not recognized as causing any plant diseases on rice or soybean, was the most prevalent Rhizoctonia spp. recovered from soil and soybeans in fields assayed from 2009 to 2012. The mean recovery from the soil was 7.1 (0–94.4) and 12.2 (0–79.7) propagules/kg from fields with 48 and >96 GPS points, respectively, while the mean number of plants colonized by the fungus was 114.3 (24%) for fields with 48 GPS points and 153.8 (16%) for fields with >96 points. In 2012, all three fields assayed indicated aggregation of the soil inoculum potential of the fungus and two of the three fields indicated aggregation from the plants colonized by R. solani AG11. In all years, semi-variogram models indicated 15 measured major ranges exceeded 50 m and 11 exceeded 100 m with most of the nugget values (error) less than 5 m indicating that there is a contiguous population across space with little microstructure below the measured major range at these distances. For the three fields examined in 2012, recovery of AG11 from plants was negatively correlated with soil volumetric water content suggesting dryer areas of the field favored infection of plants. Plant stands from soil obtained for GPS locations grown under a controlled environment found a positive correlation for two of the three locations between plant stand and colonization by AG11. These studies suggest that R. solani AG11 is the dominate Rhizoctonia group in rice soybean rotations in Arkansas in the United States. R. solani AG11 opportunistically colonizes soybean and is associated with greater plant stands across fields suggesting a positive rather than a negative pathogenic role for this fungus and the host plant.
Online analysis and early-warning method of subsynchronous resonance based on time-domain simulation

Subsynchronous resonance risk assessment in power system is mainly accomplished by offline simulation analysis, for a practical project, researchers have to consider all kinds of possible typical system operation modes, which might be a huge amount for a large-scale transmission system. This paper comes up with subsynchronous resonance online monitoring, analyzing and early-warning technologies, applies time-domain simulation to adaption and process subsynchronous resonance online analysis, and develops an online analysis and early-warning system based on computer cluster.
Dynamic Panels, Cross Sectional Correlation, and Arbitrage in Equities Market

This paper studies estimation in linear dynamic panel data models with multiple interactive effects when both N and T are large. We derive the bias term in an order p dynamic panel data model and the limiting distribution of the estimator. Simulation results show good finite sample properties of the estimator. An application to arbitrage in the U.S. equities market between 2000 and 2011 shows dynamic panel data model is an effective method to produce trading signals and generate profit and loss.
Synthesis of the phorboxazoles—potent, architecturally novel marine natural products

The phorboxazoles have attracted the attention of synthetic chemists around the globe due to their potent biological activity and novel structure. A review of the recent synthetic efforts as well as new phorboxazole analogs is discussed.
European Earwigs (Dermaptera: Forficulidae) Fail to Control Apple Aphids on Bearing Apple Trees and Woolly Apple Aphids (Homoptera: Aphididae) in Apple Rootstock Stool Beds

Insectary-reared and wild European earwigs, Forficula auricularia L., provided with artificial daytime retreats on bearing apple trees infested with apple aphids, Aphis pomi DeGeer, failed to slow aphid population growth. The difference between this result and earlier success on nonbearing apple trees is not explained. Caged earwigs damaged a few apple fruits by feeding at the calyx end, but no damage to fruit and only minimal damage to leaves was observed when earwigs were allowed free movement. Earwigs released and caged on apple rootstock stool beds after suppression of apple aphids by insecticide treatment prevented resurgence of apple aphids but had no apparent effect on infestations of woolly apple aphids, Eriosoma lanigerum (Hausmann).
Investigation of Fiber Optic Sensor for Monitoring of Ammonia

Detection and characterization of chemical contaminants in water network is paramount for water quality and water security. The current trend of monitoring the presence of contaminants is the batch sampling technique, where sample of water is collected and analyzed in the laboratory. While this technique is accurate, it fails to provide immediate information. In this work, the authors investigate the effectiveness of utilizing a fiber optics based sensor for detecting ammonia in water. In order for the system to sense ammonia, a small portion of the cladding of the fiber optic cable is stripped and replaced by a porous polymer material. A novel procedure of etching the glass cladding is reported. The modified cladding when interacts with ammonia causes a change in intensity of the electromagnetic wave flowing through the cable. The change in intensity caused by the modified cladding is studied parametrically which will help in forming a correlation between concentration of ammonia and absorbance.© 2008 ASME
The Human Challenges of Command and Control with Multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

The unmanned aerial vehicle represents a significant challenge to its operators since they are literally out of touch with the system they control. Operating from remote sites miles from the vehicle they control, they are isolated by space and time from a direct connection to the machine they operate. While the pilot of a manned aircraft can always receive some type of direct feedback from the machine they operate, even if they lose all their control and display systems, they can still perceive many qualities of that machine's system state merely from their senses. However, in contrast, the unmanned system is based solely on an electronic link connecting the operator to their vehicle. This paper will review the historical trends in remote vehicle operation and discuss state-of-the-art in remote control systems as they apply to single or multiple unmanned aerial vehicles.
Another Method of Repair for Urethrocutaneous Fistulas

Abstract Successful closure of 5 urethrocutaneous fistulas by means of a double cutaneous flap technique is described.
Priapism and renal colic in a patient treated with duloxetine.

Abstract Antidepressant medications are associated with a variety of genitourinary and adverse sexual effects, such as urinary hesitation, priapism, and delayed ejaculation. Here, we report a case of priapism and renal colic following initiation of duloxetine in a patient with history of tolerated selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment. To our knowledge, this represents the first report of priapism and renal colic associated with duloxetine use. This case contributes to the current body of evidence describing adverse genitourinary and sexual effects associated with antidepressant medications.
Patristic and Medieval Views of 2 Kings 2.23—24

It was largely in the context of their struggles against two prominent heresies that the early Latin church fathers responded to the story of Elisha’s mockery. Tertullian (c. 160–220), that pioneering Christian theologian of North Africa, refers twice to the tale in his polemic Against Marcion (Adversus Marcionem, written 207–8). Separating justice and goodness, the heretic Marcion (d. 160) contended that the Old and New Testaments present two different gods: the judgmental, ‘fierce and warlike’ demiurge or creator god of the Old Testament, whom he calumniated, and the ‘mild and peaceable, solely kind and supremely good’ god of (Marcion’s version of) the New Testament, whom he revered.1 On this distinction Marcion may have easily exploited the tale of Elisha’s mockery as illustrating the ethical inferiority of the one god to the other; in keeping with his theology, he may have argued that the setting of bears upon small children reflects an ‘evil’ compatible with the justice of the Old Testament God, but incompatible with the goodness of the New Testament God.
Policies and Strategies

Is there any need to add to all that has already been written about Orwell and 1984? In France particularly, where the scale of totalitarianism has been hidden from view for a long time now, people are making up for lost time by stating the obvious. In any case, much of the force of Orwell’s great book derives from the fact that it is crystal clear: the author’s message, as we used to say when I was young, is unambiguous, his warning to those whose minds are still untrammelled is about as subtle as setting off a fire-alarm in a church. Nothing could be more different from the shadowy mysteries of Kafka, which shows that nightmares do not all take the same form, nor is it the obscurest nightmares which are always the most terrifying.
Cardiovascular proteomics in the era of big data: experimental and computational advances

Proteomics plays an increasingly important role in our quest to understand cardiovascular biology. Fueled by analytical and computational advances in the past decade, proteomics applications can now go beyond merely inventorying protein species, and address sophisticated questions on cardiac physiology. The advent of massive mass spectrometry datasets has in turn led to increasing intersection between proteomics and big data science. Here we review new frontiers in technological developments and their applications to cardiovascular medicine. The impact of big data science on cardiovascular proteomics investigations and translation to medicine is highlighted.
Utilizing microfluidic technology to replicate placental functions in a drug testing model

In this experiment, a 3D microfluidic chip is designed and fabricated to replicate the function of the placenta. This sort of device has the potential to overtake current in vitro methods and become a physiologically relevant alternative to animal testing for the purpose of drug testing and toxicology. First, PDMS layers were constructed with microchannels using a soft lithography method. These layers come together to “sandwich” a membrane coated with collagen. Once sealed, the physiologically appropriate cells are grown to represent the nutrient/waste transfer of the placenta. Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC) were grown on one side of the device and human trophoblast cells (BeWo) were grown on the other. The midsections of the channels are aligned so that the two cell groups are able to interact with one another across the membrane environment. Flow is administered through both channels at a rate of 6 μl/hr. Utilizing the same basic design, a liver-on-a-chip was also investigated. . Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC) were grown on one side of the device and either human liver carcinoma cells (HepG2). To better mimic the true in vivo microenvironment, the HepG2 cells are suspended in fibrin gel and flow is induced on only the endothelial channel at a constant flow rate of 6 μl/hr. Ethanol tests were performed on the liver-on-a-chip in which various concentrations were introduced into the medium, leading to a better representation of ethanol-induced liver toxicity.
Looking Back and Looking Forward

The focus of Part III has been on understanding how the reality of human energy regulation is far more complex and far more dynamic than the static, open-loop model of the simplistic energy balance equation, in part because the two limbs of energy balance are not independent, but instead are physiologically linked, interacting in complex ways and often compensating for each other in the face of interventions.272 Part III has also addressed how nonlinear feedback processes underlie many of the interactions and mutual independences in human energy regulation; how some of these interactions induce positive feedback effects, while others are negative; and how feedback processes operate at multiple overlapping levels (as homeostatic processes at the physiological level, between the physiological and the behavioral, and between people and their external environment).
Adherence and Self-Management

As adolescents and young adults (AYA) with a range of diagnoses transition from pediatric to adult-focused healthcare systems, developing strategies to maintain health outcomes during this period is critical. A key driver for maintaining optimal outcomes is adherence to recommended care therapies and condition-specific management plans. However, for AYA, particularly those with complex chronic health conditions, adherence to a daily regimen is a challenge. Therapeutic regimens are often complex, multifaceted, and time consuming. Additionally, normal adolescent development, including a desire for independence from caregivers, can hinder appropriate adherence behaviors and disease self-management. Therefore, improving adherence is a key part of transitional care. This chapter reviews the clinical approach to adherence for AYA with chronic health conditions, including the recognition of distinct patterns of adherence behaviors, outlines barriers to optimal adherence, and suggests strategies to improve adherence in this high-risk population.
Strain induced exchange-spring magnetic behavior in amorphous (TbDy)Fe2 thin films

In this paper, we report a strain induced exchange-spring magnetic behavior in sputter deposited (TbDy)Fe2 amorphous thin films with phase-separated layers of (TbDy)-rich and Fe-rich at room temperature. The magnetic hysteresis loops at different strain levels were obtained with a magneto-optic Kerr effect set-up incorporating a mechanical four-point bending fixture. The unstrained film exhibits a typical ferrimagnetic hysteresis loop while the strained structure exhibits step-like hysteresis loops representative of an exchange-spring magnetic system. The mechanically strained film changes the coercivity/remanence values from positive to negative. The observed magnetic changes under strain are attributed to magnetic anisotropy modifications in the highly magnetoelastic TbDy-rich layer.
Short and extra-short forms of the Big Five Inventory–2: The BFI-2-S and BFI-2-XS

Abstract The Big Five Inventory–2 (BFI-2) uses 60 items to hierarchically assess the Big Five personality domains and 15 more-specific facet traits. The present research develops two abbreviated forms of the BFI-2—the 30-item BFI-2-S and the 15-item BFI-2-XS—and then examines their measurement properties. At the level of the Big Five domains, we find that the BFI-2-S and BFI-2-XS retain much of the full measure’s reliability and validity. At the facet level, we find that the BFI-2-S may be useful for examining facet traits in reasonably large samples, whereas the BFI-2-XS should not be used to assess facets. Finally, we discuss some key tradeoffs to consider when deciding whether to administer an abbreviated form instead of the full BFI-2.
Keynote: Law and the Brain -- Past, Present, and Future

This article surveys the past, present, and likely futures of the brain sciences – including particularly cognitive neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and behavioral genetics – as they intersect with law. Based on a symposium keynote address, it discusses recent research findings in neurolaw (including those from the MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Law and Neuroscience) and the multiple ways in which brain sciences – despite some important limitations – can be useful to the development and progress of the legal system.
People First: The Wa World of Spirits and Other Enemies

The Wa spirit world implies a certain rootedness. Knowledge of the location and propensities of spirits is necessary to engage their capricious menace through divination diagnostics and sacrificial...
Ubiquitous Computing, Customer Tracking, and Price Discrimination

The availability and cost-efficiency of modern information and communication technology have made “interactive marketing” and individual customer addressability not only possible but economical. In 1991, Blattberg and Deighton Blattberg and Deighton [1991] defined the new frontiers for marketing opened by interactive computer technologies as the “age of addressability.” Today, ubiquitous computer systems make it possible for consumers and providers of services and goods to engage in repeated, seamless interactions regardless of their respective physical locations. Ubiquitous computing refers to methods of enhancing computer use by making networks of sensors and computers available and embedded in the physical environment Weiser [1993]. The technologies on which ubiquitous computing applications are based span automatic identification (Auto-ID), such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID); (wireless) communication systems, such as Global Standard for Mobile Communication (GSM); positioning services, such as Global Positioning System (GPS); and sensor networks. Together, these technologies are making new or improved business models, services, and products possible, and attention in the academic literature is naturally growing towards the business opportunities of ubiquitous computing. The volume of ubiquitous commerce, in particular (“any transaction with a monetary value that is conducted using ubiquitous computing technology” Roussos [2004]) is expected to increase significantly in the coming years as e-commerce and wireless technologies continue to expand (the m-commerce or mobile commerce market alone is expected to be worth over $50bn by 2009 Carr [2004]). Ubiquitous commerce involves transactions as diverse as mobile phone based purchases, “intelligent” ∗Email contact: acquisti@andrew.cmu.edu.
Towards Trustworthy Online Voting : Distributed Aggregation of Confidential Data

Aggregation of values that need to be kept confidential while guaranteeing the robustness of the process and the correctness of the result is necessary for an increasing number of applications. Various kinds of surveys, such as medical ones, opinion polls, referendums, elections, as well as new services of the Internet of Things, such as home automation, require the aggregation of confidential data. In general, the confidentiality is ensured on the basis of trusted third parties or promises of cryptography, whose capacities cannot be assessed without expert knowledge. The ambition of this thesis is to reduce the need for trust in both authorities and technology and explore methods for large-scale data aggregations, that ensure a high degree of confidentiality and rely neither on trusted third parties nor solely on cryptography. Inspired by BitTorrent and Bitcoin, P2P protocols are considered. The first contribution of this thesis is the extension of the distributed aggregation protocol BitBallot with the objective to cover aggregations in P2P networks comprising adversarial peers with fail-stop or Byzantine behaviour. The introduced changes allow eventually to maintain an accurate result in presence of an adversarial minority. The encountered scalability limitations lead to the second contribution with the objective to support large-scale aggregations. Inspired by both BitBallot and BitTorrent, a novel distributed protocol called ADVOKAT is proposed. In both protocols, peers are assigned to leaf nodes of a tree overlay network which determines the computation of intermediate aggregates and restricts the exchange of data. The partition of data and computation among a network of equipotent peers limits the potential for data breaches and reduces the need for trust in authorities. The protocols provide a middleware layer whose flexibility is demonstrated by voting and lottery applications.
The State, the Courts, and the Lessons of History: An Overview, with Reference to Some Emblematic Cases

This chapter explores the origins as well as the political, legal, and historic backdrops to the Nuremberg Trials of the 1940s, the trial of Adolph Eichmann in Jerusalem in 1961, and the French Trials for Crimes Against Humanity of the 1980s and 1990s of the Nazi Klaus Barbie and Vichy officials, Paul Touvier and Maurice Papon. It examines the legal hurdles encountered in each trial and also the ways in which the exigencies of the law and history were often at odds. Finally, in the case of the French trials, which occurred a half century after the crimes were committed, it shows how intervening events complicated both the legal proceedings as well as official efforts to explore thoroughly and make clear to the public the nature and extent of French complicity in the Holocaust.
John Watson Dalby’s Poetic Reception of Mary Shelley’s Valperga

AbstractThis note examines the implications of John Watson Dalby’s ‘Sonnet, to the Author of “Valperga”’ for the reception history of Mary Shelley’s second published novel. Omitted from Mary Shelle...
Treating Cocaine Abuse: What Does Research Tell Us?

Publisher Summary Despite significant decreases during the past decade in the overall number of cocaine users in the United States, the number of heavy users and the amount of cocaine that they consume has remained stable or increased. As heavy cocaine use and the associated problems persist, treatment demand for cocaine abuse is growing. A primary question that must be addressed in treating cocaine abuse is whether hospitalization is necessary for a positive outcome. The goal is to use the least restrictive setting likely to facilitate a positive outcome. Based on the available evidence, inpatient treatment is difficult to justify as a first-choice intervention for cocaine abuse. Inpatient care is much more expensive than less restrictive settings, and there is no evidence from controlled trials demonstrating that it produces superior outcomes. Prevalence of alcohol dependence among cocaine-dependent individuals is 60% or higher, and as many as 97% of current cocaine users also report current alcohol use. Marijuana use is the most prevalent form of other illicit-drug use among cocaine abusers, with 25-90% of clinical samples of cocaine abusers reporting concurrent use and approximately 30% meeting criteria for marijuana dependence.
Hypothalamic Structure–Function Relationships

The hypothalamus is a small but influential subdivision of the diencephalon essential for adaptive changes in physiology, maintenance of homeostasis, and reproduction of species. These functions are achieved through regulatory influences over central pattern generators, central preautonomic networks, and neuroendocrine control over pituitary secretion. This article reviews the functional architecture of the hypothalamus that permits the hypothalamus to integrate sensory input in support of coordinated adaptive changes in physiology and behavior.
AND parallelism in logic programs

An interpreter for logic programs is defined which executes some goals in parallel. OR parallelism exploits the parallelism defined from nondeterministic choices, and is essentially a replacement for backtracking. AND parallelism comes from solving goals in the body of a single clause in parallel, and is the only way to exploit parallelism in deterministic functions written as logic programs. A unique feature of our model is that it allows both forms of parallelism for the same computation.
Comparison of the Toxicological Effects of Nitrate versus Chloride Metallic Salts on Caenorhabditis elegans in Soil

There is growing interest in the use of bioindicators to assess metal toxicity in soil. The current ASTM Standard Guide for Conducting Laboratory Soil Toxicity Test with the lumbricid earthworm Eisenia fetida (E 1676-97)uses a common earthworm. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a natural soil inhabitant with many characteristics that make it an ideal alternate test organism. It has been used to assess metal toxicity in aquatic media, agar plates and in soil. Work is currently underway on the design of a C. elegans procedure for metals in soil. The objective of this study was to determine differences in LC 5 0 s between the chloride salt and the nitrate salt forms of cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc in three types of soil: Cecil, Tifton, and ASTM artificial soil. Results indicated that the toxicological effect of the metallic salt varies and is dependent on the particular metal. For Cd and Pb the nitrate form is more toxic while Cu and Ni are more toxic in the chloride form. The composition of the soil also effected toxicity, with the metals being the least toxic in ASTM soil and the most toxic in Tifton soil. This is strongly correlated with organic matter and clay content of the soil. It is important to determine the effects of carrier salt form and soil composition on metal toxicity, not only in order to standardize the protocol for C. elegans soil toxicity testing, but also in establishing acceptable exposure concentrations in the soil.
Complications of Frontal Sinus Surgery

No exact figure exists for the likelihood of major complications after endoscopic sinus surgery. To obtain a figure for the chance of a complication involving a single sinus would be even more difficult. Given the complicated anatomy of the frontal sinus and its proximity to vital structures, it is unlikely that complications from frontal sinus surgery would be less frequent than in sinus surgery in general. No study specifically addressing this has been performed. The increasing use of balloon sinuplasty and specifically its application in the frontal sinuses may serve to decrease the overall rate of complications. Balloon sinuplasty, used in isolation in the frontal sinus has an excellent safety profile, a safety profile which is likely superior to dissection based techniques. Clearly only a minority ofl patients and disease processes are suitable for balloon dilation.
Becoming Pedro: “Playing Mexican” at South of the Border

In this article I examine the history of the popular “Mexican”-themed South Carolina rest stop, “South of the Border,” in the 1950s and 1960s. By turning to the cultural history of this understudied attraction, I demonstrate that, prior to large-scale migration to the “Nuevo South,” white southerners were developing and transforming racial scripts about Mexicanness. While at the rest stop, white southerners and visitors donned “Mexican” costumes and affected mock accents in order to “play Mexican”—an activity that mitigated anxieties produced by the postwar transformations of the region and helped solidify whiteness during the demise of Jim Crow. The racial formations produced at South of the Border show that white southerners were not simply consuming national ideas about race—they were also generating new racial ideologies that were regionally specific.
Attribute Hierarchy Models in Cognitive Diagnosis: Identifiability of the Latent Attribute Space and Conditions for Completeness of the Q-Matrix

Educational researchers have argued that a realistic view of the role of attributes in cognitively diagnostic modeling should account for the possibility that attributes are not isolated entities, but interdependent in their effect on test performance. Different approaches have been discussed in the literature; among them the proposition to impose a hierarchical structure so that mastery of one or more attributes is a prerequisite of mastering one or more other attributes. A hierarchical organization of attributes constrains the latent attribute space such that several proficiency classes, as they exist if attributes are not hierarchically organized, are no longer defined because the corresponding attribute combinations cannot occur with the given attribute hierarchy. Hence, the identification of the latent attribute space is often difficult—especially, if the number of attributes is large. As an additional complication, constructing a complete Q-matrix may not at all be straightforward if the attributes underlying the test items are supposed to have a hierarchical structure. In this article, the conditions of identifiability of the latent space if attributes are hierarchically organized and the conditions of completeness of the Q-matrix are studied.
The prognostic value of quantitative diffusion-weighted MRI after pediatric cardiopulmonary arrest.

Abstract Objectives The prognostic value of quantitative diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI MRI) in predicting neurologic outcomes after pediatric cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) has not been determined. The aim of this study was to identify a DWI MRI threshold for brain volume percent that correlates with neurologic outcome in children who remain comatose or display significant neurologic deficits immediately after resuscitation from CPA. Methods This single-center retrospective study analyzed DWI MRIs of pediatric patients who remained neurologically impaired after CPA. Any MRI obtained within 2 weeks after CPA was analyzed. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value of each voxel within the brain was determined. Percentage brain volume with voxels below each ADC threshold between 300 and 1200 × 10−6 mm2/s with a step of 50 were calculated. Area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) was used to identify optimal DWI MRI thresholds for brain volume percent most predictive of poor neurologic outcome. The primary outcome measure was neurologic outcome 6-months after CPA based on Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category (PCPC) score. Poor neurologic outcome was defined as PCPC score of 3–6, or a worsening from baseline score ≥1 if baseline PCPC score was ≥3. Results Twenty-six patients were included in this study. The median age was 8.5 years (2.2–14) and median time from CPA to MRI was 4 days (2–7). Two ADC thresholds for brain volume percent had the largest AUC for predicting poor neurologic outcome. An ADC threshold of Conclusions In pediatric patients who remain comatose or have significant neurologic deficits after CPA, quantitative DWI MRI correlates with neurologic outcome. Both an ADC threshold of
Rhetorics and Realities in Public Service Organizations: Systemic Practice and Organizational Learning as Critically Reflexive Action Research (CRAR)

This article sets out to develop an argument and theory-in-practice related to organizational learning and systemic practice as critically reflexive action research (CRAR). It explores principles and concepts associated with CRAR, in the context of different emphases in understandings of and approaches to “managing” or “working with” change. The notion of “epistemologies of practice” is developed, as the basis for introducing “on-site” and “off-site” CRAR as interweaving cycles of managerial and organizational learning. A multilayered illustration of an improvisational CRAR environment, using principles of dialectical enquiry and critical learning theater, is offered. A diagrammatic analysis provides the framework for describing and reflecting critically on key CRAR processes. This is expanded with a consideration of possibilities for documentation that can assist with the validation of quality in CRAR processes and outcomes. This has relevance in the context of postpositivist action research at postgraduate levels or within project-based CRAR partnerships. This leads to a further discussion of principles and concepts, in the context of other literature and pressures on public services.