cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A framework for the impact of IT on organizational performance

Purpose – Despite the constant stream of research investigating information technology (IT) business value, IT capabilities, and competitive advantage, researchers are calling for a more coherent understanding of the firm-level impacts of IT, and how those firm-level impacts can be measured. The purpose of this study is to investigate the multitude of organization-level studies of the impact of IT. Design/methodology/approach – Meta-analysis of IS literature from 2001-2009. Findings – The findings are synthesized into an overarching framework of the impact of IT at the organization level. The framework categorizes measures of the impact of IT into productivity, profitability, and intangible benefits, while the antecedents of IT impact are categorized into IT resources, IT capabilities, IT/business alignment and external factors. Originality/value – The research framework proposed provides a comprehensive snapshot of IS studies on organizational performance.
The effect of power transients on the peak heat flux

Abstract An experimental investigation of the effect of power transients on the peak heat flux has been conducted for external flow of water normal to cylindrical test elements. Two sets of tests were run: The first set, using steps and one minus negative exponentials in the test element voltage, show that if a power transient is applied to a test element when air is present on its surface the transient peak heat flux may be as low as 25 per cent of the corresponding steady state flux; In the second set of tests surface temperature measurements indicate that for steps in power the tube wall temperature variation during the approach to steady state conditions is close to that predicted for transient conduction from the element.
Residential health study of families living near the Drake Chemical Superfund site in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health conducted a health survey of a group of residents in the Lock Haven area who live in the immediate vicinity of the Drake Superfund site. A control group of residents were selected randomly from the remaining areas of Lock Haven. The study did not indicate the presence of any serious chronic health conditions in the exposed group of residents when compared with the control group. Significantly more individuals in the exposed group than the control group experienced skin problems and sleepiness for at least 1 month prior to the survey, indicative of a possible association between direct human exposure to toxic chemicals from the site and the manifestation of symptoms. The increased prevalence of the two symptoms may also have been caused by factors other than contaminants at the Drake site, e.g., stress, occupational exposure, or other etiologic agents, or it may be a spurious finding due to chance or biased reporting.
COMPARATIVE STUDY of DIFFERENT REVERSE OSMOSIS MEMBRANES FOR PROCESSING DAIRY FLUIDS: I. PERMEATE FLUX and TOTAL SOLIDS REJECTION STUDIES

Permeate fluxes and rejection coefficients (total solids) were measured for five different reverse osmosis membranes used to concentrate whole and skim milks and acid and sweet wheys. Cellulose acetate and thin film composite membranes were employed in both tubular and spiral-wound configurations. Variations in permeate flux and total solids rejection coefficients in response to changes in process operating conditions (temperature, feedstock, hydrostatic pressure/flow rate) were analyzed to assess the significance of the effects of these process parameters. All data were recorded under total recycle conditions so as to maintain a constant feed composition.
Delayed hyperglycemia and intracellular acidosis during focal cerebral ischemia in cats.

The effects of hyperglycemia on permanent focal brain ischemia is controversial; its effects on the size of the infarct are variable according to experimental conditions. In this study, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to assess brain pH and high-energy phosphate metabolites after focal middle cerebral artery (MCA) ischemia in hyperglycemic and normoglycemic cats. Sixteen adult cats underwent (MCA) occlusion under general anesthesia and nuclear magnetic resonance31P spectroscopy to assess intracellular brain pH and energy metabolites throughout permanent ischemia. Animals were treated two hours after the onset of ischemia with either saline or glucose perfusions. Significant hyperglycemia (488 vs 105 mg/100 ml) was achieved in the experimental group. The response to hyperglycemia was dependent on the initial characteristics of the infants. A distinct pattern of phosphocreatine/inorganic phosphate recovery within 20 minutes of ischemia predicted a small infarct size. The addition of hyperglycemia did not affect acidosis, infarct size, or metabolite ratios in these animals. The lack of phosphocreatine/inorganic phosphate recovery within 20 minutes of ischemia was predictive of an eventual large infarct. In these animals, the delayed addition of hyperglycemia significantly lowered intracellular pH during the ischemie period (5.45 vs. 6.25, p = 0.25). These data support the theory that the response to hyperglycemia is very dependent on the initial metabolic state of the injured brain. This state can be predicted by early31P spectroscopy data, which may, in turn, prove to be a useful marker for recoverable ischemic deficit in the cerebral region of interest.
Sections of the Taylor expansion of exp(g(z)) whereg(z) is entire and admissible in the sense of Hayman

The author considers $$f(z) = \exp (g(z)) = \sum\limits_{j = 0}^\infty {a_j z^j ,}$$ , whereg(z) is a real, entire, transcendental function admissible in the sense of W. K. Hayman [(1956): Reine Angew. Math.,196:67-95]. The aim of the paper is to study, asm→+∞, the distribution of the zeros of the partial sums $$s_m (z) = \sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {a_j z^j .}$$ The results are stated in terms of Hayman's auxiliary functions Ifr>0 is large enough, botha(r) andb(r) are positive,a(r) is strictly increasing, and $$a(r) \to + \infty ,b(r) \to + \infty (r \to + \infty ).$$ Define the sequence (R m ) (m>m 0) by the relationsa(R m )=m. From the following proposition, typical of those stated in the paper, it is easy to deduce accurate information regarding those zeros ofs m (z) that lie near the positive axis: Letζ be an auxiliary complex variable; then asm→+∞, and forR=R m , the functions $$\left\{ {1 + \zeta \left( {\frac{2}{{b(R)}}} \right)^{1/2} } \right\}^{ - m} \{ f(R)\} ^{ - 1} s_m \left( {R\left( {1 + \zeta \left( {\frac{2}{{b(R)}}} \right)^{1/2} } \right)} \right)$$ tend to $$\frac{1}{2}e^{\zeta ^2 } \left( {1 - \frac{2}{{\sqrt \pi }}\int_0^\zeta {e^{ - \sigma ^2 } d\sigma } } \right)$$ uniformly on every compact subset of theζ-plane. There are similar, equally precise, results covering those zeros ofs m (z) that lie near any rayte iϕ(0<t<+∞,ϕ≠0).
Rethinking geothermal energy's contribution to community development

Abstract Geothermal energy development in Hawaii has been surrounded by public controversy which could be avoided if the opportunity for community-scaled policies were pursued. As a case study of the relationship between energy and community the Hawaii example provides hope for alternate energy development strategies in the future.
Converting Project Team Experience to Organizational Learning: A Case Study

Project teams represent both a mechanism for accomplishing work and an opportunity for learning within organizations. This paper investigates how an organization can learn from its project teams. It presents a case study of a complete experiential learning cycle within a single organization's new product development process. Post-mortem feedback was collected from the broad spectrum of organizational participants and the ten project teams that were operating simultaneously. This feedback was analyzed using an issue-focused approach, and learning was assessed based on actionable knowledge: the changes made to the process for future projects
Tongue-n-cheek: non-contact tongue gesture recognition

Tongue gestures are a key modality for augmentative and alternative communication in patients suffering from speech impairments and full-body paralysis. Systems for recognizing tongue gestures, however, are highly intrusive. They either rely on magnetic sensors built into dentures or artificial teeth deployed inside a patient's mouth or require contact with the skin using electromyography (EMG) sensors. Deploying sensors inside a patient's mouth can be uncomfortable for long-term use and contact-based sensors like EMG electrodes can cause skin abrasion. To address this problem, we present a novel contact-less sensor, called Tongue-n-Cheek, that captures tongue gestures using an array of micro-radars. The array of micro-radars act as proximity sensors and capture muscle movements when the patient performs the tongue gesture. Tongue-n-Cheek converts these movements into gestures using a novel signal processing algorithm. We demonstrate the efficacy of Tongue-n-Cheek and show that our system can reliably infer gestures with 95% accuracy and low latency.
Linearized dynamic models of robot manipulators in cartesian space

This article presents development of the linearized dynamic models of robot manipulators in Cartesian space. A clever method is proposed to formulate the linearized dynamic models of robot manipulators in Cartesian space. Efficient methods are developed to compute various matrices involved in the models (or the manipulator sensitivity matrices in Cartesian space), such as the Jacobian matrix and the first and second derivatives of it with respect to time as well as the manipulator sensitivity matrices in joint space. The proposed methods are simple and systematic and have computational complexity of the order O(n2) only, where n is the number of degrees-of-freedom of the manipulator.
Geographic location of antineoplastic agent clinical trials conducted in developed and developing countries.

Background For the past 30 years, clinical trials have been increasingly conducted in developing countries. These trials allow results to be generalizable to similar populations, offer access to treatment for patients in need, and examine diseases with differing patterns than developed countries. However, the characteristics of antineoplastic clinical trials and recent trends in study location in developing countries are unknown. Objective The primary objective was to evaluate the location, study phase, results, funding source, and ethics board approval of randomized double-blind controlled clinical trials evaluating antineoplastic agents by geographic location. Setting This is a retrospective evaluation of studies indexed in the PubMed/Medline database published in 2007–2011. Methods Clinical trials were identified with the search terms “drug therapy”, “antineoplastic agents” and “double blind method” and limited to English language, human, and randomized controlled trial. Main Outcome Measure We assessed frequencies of characteristics of antineoplastic clinical trials. Results A total of 116 trials evaluating antineoplastic drug therapy were identified. The highest frequency of clinical trials were published in 2009 (27.6 %), followed by 2011 (23.3 %), 2010 (20.7 %), 2007 (14.6 %), and 2008 (13.8 %). According to geographic region, 33.8 % were conducted in North America, followed by Europe (31.5 %) and Asia (16.2 %). Based on economic status, the majority (77.8 %) of clinical trial locations were in developed countries and 22.2 % were in developing countries. No significant difference was found between study locations in developed countries and developing countries from 2007 to 2011. When comparing studies conducted in developing and developed countries, there was no difference in the year published, study phase, results, funding source, or investigational review board approval and informed consent. Studies conducted in developed countries were significantly more likely to be single country studies (p = 0.02) and published in a journal with an impact factor greater than 10 (p = 0.013) when compared to studies conducted in developing countries. Conclusions Based on economic status, there was no significant location change of antineoplastic clinical trials from 2007 to 2011. Clinical trials conducted in developing countries were more often multi-country studies and published in journals with lower impact factors.
In-Vivo Fault Analysis and Real-Time Fault Prediction for RF Generators Using State-of-the-Art Classifiers

In this paper we apply various machine learning techniques for fault detection of RF (Radio Frequency) Power Generators. Fast Fourier Transform features are used in our analysis for all experiments. Radial Basis Function Networks (RBF) is used to build a two class classifier to differentiate between normal and one fault condition. We apply three one class classifiers to model the normal operating conditions. The data is obtained from five different generators of the same model type.
Microbiological Profile of Organisms Causing Bloodstream Infection in Critically Ill Patients

Background: Bloodstream infection (BSI) is the most frequent infection in critically ill patients. As BSI’s among patients in intensive care units (ICU’s) are usually secondary to intravascular catheters, they can be caused by both Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms as well as fungi. Infection with multidrug-resistant (MDR) organisms is becoming more common, making the choice of empirical antimicrobial therapy challenging . The objective of this study is to evaluate the spectrum of microorganisms causing BSI’s in a Medical-Surgical Intensive Care Unit (MSICU) and their antimicrobial resistance patterns. Methods: A prospective observational study among all adult patients with clinical signs of sepsis was conducted in a MSICU of an inner-city hospital in New York City between May 1, 2010 and May 30, 2011. Results: A total of 722 adult patients with clinical signs of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and/or sepsis were admitted to the MSICU between May 1, 2010 and May 30, 2011. From those patients, 91 (12.6%) had one or more positive blood culture. A 122 isolates were identified: 72 (59%) were Gram-positive bacteria, 38 (31.1%) were Gram-negative organisms, and 12 (9.8%) were fungi. Thirteen (34.2%) Gram-negative organisms and 14 (19.4%) Gram-positive bacteria were classified as MDR. Conclusions: Antimicrobial resistance, particularly among Gram-negative organisms, continues to increase at a rapid rate, especially in the ICU’s. Coordinated infection control interventions and antimicrobial stewardship policies are warranted in order to slow the emergence of resistance. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4021/jocmr1099w
Against Hollywood: American independent film as a critical cultural movement

In the late 1980s, American independent film broke out of the tiny “art houses” (specialty theaters) of a few major American cities and became a much stronger presence in American public culture. Independent filmmakers see themselves as challenging the hegemony of Hollywood, eschewing entertainment —fantasy, pleasure, happy endings—and offering instead harsh and “edgy” stories about life in contemporary society. The present article draws on interviews, panel discussions, filmmaker Q & As, and other contexts in which independent film people talk about what they are trying to do: to make what one indie producer called “movies that matter.”
Improved outcome at 28 days of age for very low birth weight infants treated with a single dose of a synthetic surfactant

Two identical double-blind, controlled, randomized trials were initiated to determine whether the administration of a single 5 ml/kg dose of a synthetic surfactant (Exosurf Neonatal), soon after the delivery of infants with birth weights 700 to 1350 gm, would improve rates of survival without bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Both trials were terminated before enrolling their planned sample sizes because of the availability of Exosurf under the provisions of a Treatment investigational New Drug program. We report the combined results of these trials. Study infants were stratified according to birth weight and gender before random assignment to a treatment regimen. One hundred ninety-two infants received Exosurf and 193 received an air placebo. The study groups were simllar when a variety of demographic features describing the mothers, their pregnancles, the circumstances of the births, and the infants were compared. Exosurf-treated infants required significantly less oxygen and respiratory support during the first 3 days of life in comparison with the air-treated infants. Fewer infants in the Exosurf group had pulmonary interstitial emphysema (26 vs 13; p =0.028). In the Exosurf group, there was a significant reduction in the combined outcome, neonatal death or survival with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (57 vs 39; p =0.042), and there was a significant increase in rates of survival without this disease (128 vs 137; p =0.042). There were no differences between treatment groups in the incidences of a variety of complications of prematurity, including apnea, patent ductus arteriosus, intraventricular hemorrhage, and necrotizing enterocolitis. We conclude that improvements in respiratory physiology after a single prophylactic dose of Exosurf result in an increased likelihood of neonatal survival without bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
A system-level solution to domino synthesis with 2 GHz application

System structure and a taped out 0.18u 2 GHz product application result are described for a domino synthesis capability that covers all aspects of domino design, from estimation to silicon-ready layout, with custom-class optimization. The described optimization flow, abstraction modes, and key cost factors deliver power-optimized, noise-correct domino performance on complex logic.
Screening- und Selektionsmethoden für die Analyse von Proteinfunktionen in großem Maßstab

Hochdurchsatz-Testsysteme erwecken gewaltige Erwartungen fur das Protein-Engineering und die funktionelle Proteomik. Mit aussagekraftigen Tests sollte es moglich sein, beispielsweise eine stereoselektive Esterase fur die chemische Synthese oder eine ortsspezifische Endonuclease fur die biomedizinische Forschung zu entwickeln. Ganze cDNA-Bibliotheken, die alle exprimierten Proteine eines bestimmten Organismus oder einer Zelllinie codieren, sollten einfach durch eine Batterie biochemischer Testsysteme geschleust werden, um die Funktion jedes einzelnen Proteins zu bestimmen. In diesem Aufsatz beschreiben wir, welche Arten von Testsystemen entwickelt wurden und wie nahe wir den Zielen sind, einerseits Proteine mit neuen Aktivitaten zu entwickeln und andererseits den Tausenden von Proteinen, aus denen jedes Genom besteht, schnell eine Funktion zuzuordnen.
Enhancing UML Conceptual Modeling through the Use of Virtual Reality

UML is one of the major conceptual modeling tools in Object-Oriented software engineering. However, recently more and more concerns arise from the modeling quality of UML. Among them, limitation of the two-dimensional presentation of its notations is reported to be significant. By bringing in the concepts of Steoropsis (3-D appearance), animation, interaction and immersion, Virtual Reality may improve the UML modeling quality. Specifically, in this paper we analyze the modeling quality of UML by using recent published literature in conceptual modeling. We then recommend the use of Virtual Reality to enhance the modeling quality of UML. Some examples of how Virtual Reality can be used to improve UML modeling quality are given. Finally, we propose a research framework for enhancing the quality of UML conceptual modeling through the use of Virtual Reality.
Reply to: "Tropical cirrus and water vapor: an effective Earth infrared iris feedback?"

Abstract. In assessing the iris effect suggested by Lindzen et al. (2001), Fu et al. (2002) found that the response of high-level clouds to the sea surface temperature had an effect of reducing the climate sensitivity to external radiative forcing, but the effect was not as strong as LCH found. The approach of FBH to specifying longwave emission and cloud albedos appears to be inappropriate, and the derived cloud optical properties may not have real physical meaning. The cloud albedo calculated by FBH is too large for cirrus clouds and too small for boundary layer clouds, which underestimates the iris effect.
Volunteerism during the Transition to Adulthood: A Life Course Perspective

This panel study examines whether educational, work, and family roles promote volunteerism during late adolescence and early adulthood, as they do later in adulthood. The findings reveal substantial continuity in volunteerism from adolescence through the transition to adulthood and highlight the importance of values expressed in adolescence for volunteerism in the years following. Controlling these processes, attending school during this life stage promotes volunteerism. In contrast, full-time work investments in the early life course are found to hinder volunteer participation, as does the presence of young children in the family, especially at earlier parental ages. The results support a life course perspective for understanding civic participation.
Evaluation of fracture resistance and failure risks of posterior partial coverage restorations.

Statement of Problem: Interest in posterior partial coverage restorations has increased because these restorations provide a more conservative treatment option than traditional cohesively based restorations; however, material selection has been a controversial topic in the current literature. Purpose: To evaluate the fracture resistance of posterior partial coverage restorations restored with different materials, examine their stress distribution, and calculate failure risks using three-dimensional (3D) finite element analysis. Methods: Sixty extracted third molar teeth received 2-mm occlusal reduction maintaining cusp steepness of 45 degrees relative to occlusal surface.Teeth were allocated into four groups (N =15) and restored with different materials: feldspathic ceramic, leucite-reinforced ceramic, lithium disilicate-reinforced ceramic (EMX), or indirect resin-based composite (COM). Restorations were luted with resin cement and submitted to compressive loads (Instron Corp, Norwood, MA, USA).The data were analyzed with one-way analysis of variance, followed by Tukey's HSD tests. A 3D finite element model of posterior partial coverage restorations was developed and validated.The model was used to approximate the maximum principal stress in each of the materials under a 100-N static vertical compression at the occlusal surface of the tooth.The risk of restoration failure was quantified and compared among the four different materials. Results: Group EMX had fracture resistance significantly higher than other testing groups. Group COM presented the most extensive fractures involving tooth and root structures.When compared with the other materials, group EMX exhibited higher stress concentration; however, the failure risk of the restoration was lower. Conclusions: Fracture resistance and failure risks of posterior partial coverage restorations are significantly influenced by material selection.
Acid-Base Balance, Plasma Electrolytes and Production Performance of Adult Turkey Hens under Conditions of Increasing Ambient Temperature

Turkey hens were exposed to stepwise increases in ambient temperature from 21 degrees C. to 25 degrees C. to 30 degrees C. to 35 degrees C. at two-week intervals. Dietary calcium levels to 1.54, 2.01 and 2.48 percent were fed. Acid-base balance, plasma electrolytes and production performance were studied. The temperature increase caused a significant (P less than 0.05) decrease in plasma sodium, calcium, and magnesium, and in egg production, shell thickness and egg weight and a significant (P less than 0.05) increase in plasma potassium. There was no significant change in the acid-base balance of the blood as measured by blood PO2, PCO2 and pH. Egg production was not significantly correlated to blood gas activitelated to plasma calcium and magnesium levels. Dietary calcium levels had no influence on the parameters measured.
Growth in women's political representation: A longitudinal exploration of democracy, electoral system and gender quotas

The expansion of women’s formal political representation ranks among the most significant trends in international politics of the last 100 years. Though women made steady political progress, substantial country-level variation exists in patterns of growth and change. In this paper, we develop longitudinal theories to examine how political factors affect women’s political representation over time. We use latent growth curve models to assess the growth of women in politics in 110 countries from 1975 to 2000. We investigate how electoral systems, national-level gender quotas, and growth of democracy impact country-level trajectories of women’s legislative representation. We find: (1) national quotas do affect women’s political presence, but at a lower level than legislated by law; (2) the impact of a proportional representation system on women’s political representation is steady over time; and (3) democracy, especially civil liberties, does not affect the level of women’s political representation in the earliest period, but does impact the growth of women’s political representation over time. These findings both reinforce and challenge prior cross-sectional models of women’s political representation.
What is the research base for the use of dietary supplements

The market for dietary supplements in the USA was estimated as about 11.8 billion dollars in 1997 with a growth rate of 10‐14 % projected in the next 3 years. Data from the Food and Drug Administration collected in 1995 indicate that over 55 % of adults surveyed used some type of dietary supplement. The marketing of dietary supplements in the USA has been essentially deregulated by the passage of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA). This legislation defined dietary supplements, made manufacturers responsible for the safety of supplements and allowed certain statements of nutrition support to be made on supplement labels. The US Congress in passing the DSHEA indicated that supplements should be available on the market so that consumers could make decisions about their use for themselves and their families. Unfortunately, information about the research base for supplement claims is not readily accessible to health professionals and consumers. There is a need for authoritative reviews of the data underlying supplement claims to assist public health professionals in their role of providing advice to the public about dietary supplements.
A New Member of the Madison Limestone (Mississippian) in Wyoming

The new name Bull Ridge Member of the Madison Limestone is proposed for a widespread stratigraphic unit of early Meramec age in central Wyoming. This name replaces the name Sacajawea as used by some authors in the Wind River and Owl Creek Mountains.
Air-to-undersea communication with electric dipoles

A brief discussion of the ranges of various parameters involved in air-to-undersea communication at 10 to 10^{5} cps is followed by a solution of Sommerfeld's integrals for the \bar{\pi} components in the two media, the solution being valid for the quasi-near range subject to certain mild restrictions. This is accomplished by defining two auxiliary integrals, asymptotic series expansions for which are obtained by extending the work of Banos and Wesley. The solution for \bar{\pi} leads to the derivation of electromagnetic-field components. It is found that, from field-strength considerations alone, the best scheme for two-way communication consists of a vertical electrical dipole in air with a horizontal electric dipole in the sea. Simple calculations for estimating the satisfactory communication range are included.
Ephedra increases VO2, impairs thermoregulation and cardiovascular function, but does not enhance exercise performance

The dietary supplement ephedra is a potent sympathomimetic that was banned by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2003 because of its deleterious effects on cardiovascular function and thermoregulation during exercise. Unfortunately, extracts of ephedra can still be obtained via the internet and are in use worldwide. The horse is the only athletic species other than humans that sweats to thermoregulate and it controls cardiovascular function in a similar fashion. The purpose of this study was to use the horse to examine the acute effects of ephedra (Ma Huang) to investigate on markers of performance as well as effects on cardiovascular function and thermoregulation during acute exercise. Six Standardbred mares (~450 kg; 6-12 years of age) were used in a crossover design consisting of a ephedra (Ma Huang containing 8% ephedra alkaloid) and control (applesauce) group. All horses performed an incremental graded exercise test (GXT) at a 6% fixed grade to measure oxygen uptake (VO2), run time, velocity at V...
Ultra-thin carbon coatings for head-disk interface tribology

Molecular dynamics computer simulations of the growth processes and microstructural properties of amorphous carbon (a:C) and amorphous hydrogenated carbon (a:CH) ultra-thin films have been performed. Films 1 to 10 nm thick were grown on a diamond (100) surface using Brenner`s bond-order potential for hydrocarbons. The stoichiometry, radial distribution function, chemical bonding (amount of sp{sub 2} and sp{sub 3} hybridization) and residual stress are presented.
Convex optimization proves software correctness

This paper concerns analysis of real-time, safety-critical, embedded software. Software analysis is expected to verify whether the computer code will execute safely, free of run-time errors. The main properties to be analyzed to prove or disprove safe execution include boundedness of all variables and termination of the program in finite-time. Herein the concepts of Lyapunov invariance and associated computational procedures are brought within the context of software analysis. Dynamical system representations of software systems along with specific models that are suitable for analysis via Lyapunov-like functions are developed. General forms for the Lyapunov-like invariants are then constructed in a way to certify the desired properties. Convex optimization methods such as linear programming and/or semidefinite programming are then employed for finding appropriate functions that fit into these general forms and therefore, automatically establish the key properties of software.
Lattice-based optical clock using an even isotope of Yb

We describe progress toward an optical lattice clock based on an even isotope of Yb. The 1 S0 → 3 P0 clock resonance in 174 Yb is accessed through a magnetically induced spectroscopic technique. Using ≈ 1 mT static magnetic fields and ≈ 10 µW of probe light power we generate Rabi frequencies of several hertz. The narrow spectroscopic features that result (< 10 Hz FWHM) require a highly stabilized laser at the clock transition wavelength of 578 nm. We describe a new all solid-state laser system that shows hertz level stability. In order to cancel the slow drift of the cavity, spectroscopy is performed on the clock transition to provide feedback to the laser. Using a Ca neutral atom frequency standard as a reference oscillator,we show high stability and an effective method for investigating clock frequency shift systematics.
Distorting the Process of Scientific Inquiry

Standards are expected to emerge from the Framework for K–12 Science Education (National Research Council 2012). The general nature of the scientific method is well described. Even its Wikipedia entry nicely summarizes that scientists “propose hypotheses as explanations of phenomena and design experimental studies to test these hypotheses via predictions which can be derived from them” (http://en. wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method). The process of scientific inquiry is a logical procedure that involves the following four steps: (1) Find something interesting to talk about by using statistical hypothesis testing to expose an observation or pattern that is unlikely to have arisen from chance alone; (2) suggest alternative explanations (research hypotheses) for why the nonrandom pattern exists; (3) use if–then logic to generate a series of predictions that follow logically and necessarily from each hypothesis; and (4) distinguish among the alternatives by testing the predictions that were generated in step 3.
Finfish-Waterbird Trophic Interactions in Tidal Freshwater Tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay

Abstract With the DDT ban enacted in the early 1970s, piscivorous bird populations have grown exponentially throughout the tidal reach of the Chesapeake Bay. However, avian population growth is not uniform throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed; several species including Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) experienced significantly greater population growth rates in riverine tidal freshwater and oligohaline regions than in higher salinity portions of the bay. Shifting fish prey resources may provide an explanation for the observed influence of salinity on distribution of piscivorous bird populations. Changes in the fish resources available to avian predators over the past 40 years include changing temporal and spatial distribution of fish prey, as well as shifts in taxonomic and trophic structure of resident and migratory fish assemblages. Historical ecological changes, including long- and short-term changes in the abundance of anadromous clupeid fishes, Atlantic Menhad...
Nondestructive field assessment of flexible pavement and foundation layers

Falling weight deflectometer (FWD) and ground penetrating radar (GPR) are nondestructive test devices widely used by transportation agencies to assess pavement conditions. The two papers in this thesis evaluated the uncertainties associated with interpreting data from these devices and assessed potential applications. In the first paper, FWD tests were conducted on asphalt pavements with varying supporting conditions, and individual layer modulus values were estimated using forwardand back-calculation methods. Dynamic cone penetrometer (DCP) test device was used to independently measure individual layer penetration resistance (PR) values to compare with the estimate moduli values. Results indicated that the predicted subgrade moduli values from forwardand back-calculations are strongly correlated but produce slightly different values. The predicted asphalt and base layer moduli values from forwardand back-calculations, however, showed significant scatter. Comparison between DCP-PR and the predicted base and subgrade layer modulus yielded non-linear relationships. The relationships produced lower standard errors when only data from subgrade layer is considered. The relationships developed in this study fell within the upper and lower bounds of relationships documented in the literature. In the second paper, the efficacy of using a ground-coupled GPR system and a hand-held dielectric property measurement device to determine the asphalt and pavement foundation layer thicknesses is assessed. The actual pavement thicknesses were measured from pavement cores and foundation layer thicknesses were obtained using dynamic cone penetrometer (DCP) tests. Further, the viability of using GPR to detect moisture variations in the base layers is assessed. Tests were conducted on various asphalt pavement test sections
Borders and Access: Contemporary African Artists and Global Mobility

In recent years, African artists have exponentially increased their access to the global context through online and social media. At the same time, a proliferation of legal and extralegal restrictive immigration policies, especially in the West, inscribes the locality of African subjects by subjecting them to restrictive codes of movement. Geo-spatial technologies have become directly proportional to increased limitations on mobility in the current global order, which impedes the ability of contemporary African artists to fully engage globalization. However, many art programs and institutions have arisen in Africa to counter this process. These new institutions of contemporary art are diverse, committed to trans-African collaboration and actively encourage the movement of African artists and ideas about art across borders. The activities of contemporary art organizations (such as Center for Contemporary Art Lagos) and radical initiatives (such as Crossing Borders) are expanding communication and collaboration among African artists on a continental scale. Apparently, impediments to movement due to onerous immigration and border control are creating both difficulties and opportunities for contemporary African artists. I evaluate the impact of these developments for analysis of contemporary African art and review the new forms and practices of art emerging in these contexts.
Argentine Worker Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Mortality Response to Sodium Salicylate and Sodium Cinnamate

Abstract The mortality response of Argentine worker ants, Linepithema humile (Mayr), following exposure to four phenolic compounds (sodium salicylate, sodium cinnamate, p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid) known to serve in plant defense mechanisms, boric acid, and sodium bicarbonate was assayed in laboratory testing. Argentine ant mortality after 3 days of exposure to sodium salicylate powder was significantly (F = 129.69; df = 3,2; P < 0.0001) higher than ant mortality in the untreated controls and in treatments with boric acid and sodium bicarbonate powders. Worker ant mortality after 3 days exposure to either sodium salicylate or cinnamic acid powder was significantly (F = 124.56, df =4,2, P < 0.0001) higher than mortality of worker ants in control, p-coumaric acid, and caffeic acid treatments. Assays with a range of concentrations (0,0.625, 1.25, 2.5, and 5.0%) of either sodium salicylate or sodium cinnamate dissolved in 10% sucrose solution showed significantly higher mortality with 5% sodium salicylate (...
The first synthesis of Pb1-xMnxSe nanocrystals

In this work, Mn-doped PbSe nanocrystals (NCs) have been, for the first time, prepared through a high-temperature organic solution approach. To ensure that all the Mn2+ ions are indeed incorporated into the NCs and not only physically presented at the surface, Mn−Se prebonded precursor was selected, and a ligand-exchange process was also conducted before and after the synthesis, respectively. Various analyses including EDS, ICP, XRD, SQUID, and EPR confirm that the Mn2+ ions have been successfully doped into PbSe NCs.
Neolithic Plastered Skulls and Railroading Epistemologies

Assumptions about Neolithic plastered skulls in the Levant are "railroaded" upon us in two different ways: concerning age and sex, and the use of intentional postmortem dental evulsion. These two p...
Academic Labor: Who Cares?

This article analyzes the neoliberal turn to contingent labor in academe, specifically the development of a ‘teaching-only’ sector, through the lens of feminist, interdisciplinary and intersectiona...
AUDIO-TO-AUDIO ALIGNMENT USING PARTICLE FILTERS TO HANDLE SMALL AND LARGE SCALE PERFORMANCE DISCREPANCIES

We present an approach to improve the audio-to-audio alignment performance of causal alignment systems in the presence of either note-level or sectional performance differences. We explore the use of particle filter based models tailored specifically for online audio-to-audio alignment with a focus on handling missing sections in the audio to be aligned. The proposed approach relaxes the local continuity assumption that most alignment methods presume, by way of introducing two different transition models, one of which is intended to track the local position in the audio, and the other, is used to handle missing notes and missing sections spanning multiple measures in the audio. Results of a comparative evaluation are presented to demonstrate the improvement in tracking and alignment performance.
Macroscopically sustainable networking: on internet quines

The Internet stands atop an unseen industrial system required for its continued growth, operation, and maintenance. Its scale could not have been achieved without this reliance, and its dependencies---ranging from sophisticated manufacturing facilities to limited raw materials---make it vulnerable to supply-chain disruptions, which are more likely as human society faces global ecological limits. We introduce the concept of an Internet quine, a metaphor that represents a collection of devices, protocols, manufacturing facilities, software tools, and other related components that is self-bootstrapping and capable of being used (by engineers or autonomously) to reproduce itself and all the needed components of the Internet. In this paper, we study the nature of Internet quines and discuss how they could be built. We also attempt to identify a collection of such tools and facilities, and how small and inexpensive they can be made.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND THE INFORMAL ECONOMY: AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS

This paper presents an empirical study investigating the effect of entrepreneurship on the incidence of informal employment. It builds upon economic models exploring the determinants of informal economy by analyzing the role played by institutions and policies and their effect on the informal sector. Among policies examined are payroll and severance taxes, labor and product market regulations, unemployment benefits, firing and hiring costs, enforcement of financial contracts and financial costs. The empirical analysis is based on a panel data approach. The main result of the paper supports the view that the informal sector is an “unregulated micro-entrepreneurial sector.” The findings suggest that differences in the level of entrepreneurial activities across developing countries are associated with variance in the incidence of informal employment, and that entrepreneurship has a positive effect on the informal sector. The incidence of informal employment is strongly affected by the public perception of government performance, role, accountability and effectiveness, as well as labor market and business regulations.
Imprinting in the CNS and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Genomic imprinting is allele-specific silencing based on maternal or paternal inheritance via epigenetic mechanisms. All imprinted loci express a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in an allele-specific manner dependent on a differentially methylated region (DMR). We describe the general mechanisms of genomic imprinting during development, focusing on how lncRNA serve to translate the stable epigenetic mark of DNA methylation in order to allow for tissue specific patterns of imprinted gene expression. Disruption of an lncRNA encoded on chromosome 15q11-q13 plays a central role in the pathogenesis of the neurodevelopmental disorders Prader–Willi syndrome and Angelman syndrome, and regulation of gene expression throughout 15q11-q13 is important in brain development. We focus on 15q11-q13 as a model example for the role genomic imprinting plays in human brain development, and discuss the role other imprinted loci may play in brain development.
Waitlist Outcomes of Liver Transplant Candidates Who Were Reprioritized Under Share 35

Under Share 35, deceased donor (DD) livers are offered regionally to candidates with Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores ≥35 before being offered locally to candidates with MELD scores <35. Using Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients data from June 2013 to June 2015, we identified 1768 DD livers exported to regional candidates with MELD scores ≥35 who were transplanted at a median MELD score of 39 (interquartile range [IQR] 37–40) with 30-day posttransplant survival of 96%. In total, 1764 (99.8%) exports had an ABO-compatible candidate in the recovering organ procurement organization (OPO), representing 1219 unique reprioritized candidates who would have had priority over the regional candidate under pre–Share 35 allocation. Reprioritized candidates had a median waitlist MELD score of 31 (IQR 27–34) when the liver was exported. Overall, 291 (24%) reprioritized candidates had a comparable MELD score (within 3 points of the regional recipient), and 209 (72%) were eventually transplanted in 11 days (IQR 3–38 days) using a local (50%), regional (50%) or national (<1%) liver; 60 (21%) died, 13 (4.5%) remained on the waitlist and nine (3.1%) were removed for other reasons. Of those eventually transplanted, MELD score did not increase in 57%; it increased by 1–3 points in 37% and by ≥4 points in 5.7% after the export. In three cases, OPOs exchanged regional exports within a 24-h window. The majority of comparable reprioritized candidates were not disadvantaged; however, 21% died after an export.
Fleurtech: transformable smart dress

Fleurtech is a transformable dress that incorporates servomechanisms to accentuate the length of skirts. It can be used as a long or mini dress in one item that also allows for versatility and flexibility in varied contexts and body sizes. This design is expected to extend the lifespan of the product with its unique designs and transforming functions, and it is expected to be worn more frequently with its versatility in designs.
Let's agree on computing flops for the symmetric sparse matrix vector product

It is well known that the sparse matrix vector product Ax requires two floating-point operations per each non zero element in A. However, when computing the number of flops for the symmetric sparse matrix vector product (Sym-SpMV) some subtleties should be considered because the number of non zero (nnz) elements reported on symmetric sparse matrices varies from one research work to another. In general, matrices are chosen from the University of Florida Sparse Matrix Collection and for symmetric matrices, in this collection, the nnz elements in the profile differs from the nnz elements stored in file. Therefore, we can find two different works using similar algorithms and reporting different nnz elements for the same matrix because one uses the nnz elements found in the matrix profile and the other reports the nnz elements in store (the lower triangular matrix), which is misleading. If symmetry is exploited, computing four floating point operations per each off diagonal non zero element is correct in a symmetric matrix but it is not accurate to count four floating point operations on diagonal non zero coefficients because they only produce one or two floating point operations per nonzero element depending on the handling of the diagonal. Furthermore, there are symmetric matrices whose diagonal is not dense or all elements are zero. We evaluate three algorithms proposed in the literature to compute the symmetric SpMV and observe their behavior on a small set of different symmetric sparse matrix types. Based on our experimental results we propose a more accurate way to measure flops when dealing with the symmetric sparse matrix vector product. Finally, we show that an algorithm can run faster than another and produce less flops than the slower one.
Classification and Management of Pancreatic Cysts

Pancreatic cysts are found in about 2.5% of the population and are increasingly discovered incidentally in asymptomatic patients undergoing abdominal imaging for unrelated reasons. The most common type of cystic finding in the pancreas is a pseudocyst in the context of a recent episode of acute pancreatitis. Other pancreatic cyst types include intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasia (IPMN), other mucinous cystic neoplasia (MCN), serous cystadenoma (SCA), solid pseudopapillary neoplasia (SPN), and cystic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (CPEN), which warrant follow-up because of their small but concerning risk for malignancy. Additional imaging with MRI abdomen or pancreas protocol CT can further characterize cysts and identify any risk features, such as cyst size over 3 cm, presence of a mural nodule, or pancreatic main duct dilation. In the presence of one or more of these concerning features or clinical presentation with obstructive jaundice or abdominal pain, endoscopic ultrasound with fine needle aspiration (EUS/FNA) can provide additional information to aid decision making with regard to surveillance or surgical resection for the cyst.