cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
2 – BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the factors that should be noted before one can actually begin to prepare a paper or presentation. It is important to take into account the philosophy or attitude toward communication, and to determine what kind of communication is being prepared for a particular audience. While determining the kind of communication is easy, attitude is another matter. It is ingrained in or developed with one's personality and may be different for each individual. Attitude may be the strongest influence on what is communicated, and how an audience interprets it. The particular language of science presents some differences from other semantic environments. The complexity of communicating in science is compounded by the fact that science must be objective, but communication is interpersonal, psychological, and social as well as objective and intellectual. In communication in science, it is essential that one should be as simple and exact as possible. The most common forms for scientific communications are reports, journal articles, proposals, theses, abstracts, speeches or slide presentations, poster presentations, and sometimes books, chapters, review papers, and group communications. Language is the primary tool, but equipments, such as computers, Internet, and electronic equipment, help to transfer language from one's mind to the minds of the audience.
Characterizing DNS Behaviors of Internet of Things in Edge Networks

The recent spate of cyber attacks and security threats toward Internet-of-Things (IoT) systems in smart cities, smart homes, and industry 4.0 calls for effective techniques to understand if, when, who, what IoT systems are exploited and compromised by Internet attackers. Toward this end, this article attempts to study DNS behavioral patterns of IoT systems in edge networks as a first step of characterizing their communication patterns and their interactions with IoT users, cloud servers, and other IoT or non-IoT devices in the same edge networks. Specifically, we analyze the temporal–spatial patterns of DNS behaviors of a variety of IoT systems in two dozens of edge networks and develop a simple yet effective Bloom filter mechanism for detecting anomalous traffic patterns based on unusual DNS queries and answers. To the best of our knowledge, this article is the first effort to systematically measure and monitor IoT network traffic from a DNS perspective for providing the security of heterogeneous IoT systems and ensuring IoT user privacy.
Problems of Language and Logic in Daoism

The chapter considers the relation between language and logic in early Daoism. It explains the Daoist experience of language, which is closely related to the Daoist experience of the Way (dao). It is shown how Daoist logic differs from the Confucian logic of correctness and the Mohist logic of naming. Even if Daoist discourse does not follow these more familiar forms of logic, it does not negate the law of non-contradiction nor does it fall into the performative contradiction. Through readings of significant Daoist stories the Daoist logic beyond logic is brought to view.
Regulatory crosstalk between motility and interbacterial communication in Salmonella Typhimurium

FliA is a broadly conserved σ factor that directs transcription of genes involved in flagellar motility. We previously identified FliA-transcribed genes in Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, and we showed that E. coli FliA transcribes many unstable, non-coding RNAs from intragenic promoters. Here, we show that FliA in S. Typhimurium also directs transcription of large numbers of unstable, non-coding RNAs from intragenic promoters, and we identify two previously unreported FliA-transcribed protein coding genes. One of these genes, sdiA, encodes a transcription factor that responds to quorum sensing signals produced by other bacteria. We show that FliA-dependent transcription of sdiA is required for SdiA activity, highlighting a regulatory link between flagellar motility and intercellular communication.
Effectiveness of Conjugate and Polysaccharide Pneumococcal Vaccines for Prevention of Severe Pneumococcal Disease Among Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients.

BACKGROUND Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important pathogen responsible for severe pneumococcal diseases, including pneumonia, bacteraemia/sepsis, and meningitis. Inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] patients have an increased risk for infections due to an altered immune system and treatment with immunosuppressive medications. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of severe pneumococcal disease [SPD] and evaluate the impact of pneumococcal vaccination on the risk of SPD in Veterans with IBD. METHODS Subjects with IBD and SPD were identified from the VA Health Administration database using ICD9/10 codes. Pneumococcal vaccination and use of immunosuppressant medications were collected. Risk of SPD was evaluated using an adjusted Cox proportional hazards model controlling for demographics, medications, vaccination, and comorbidities. RESULTS A total of 1798 cases of SPD were identified [283 pneumonia, 1513 bacteraemia, and two meningitis]. SPD patients were older [60.9 years vs 59.4 years; p <0.001], had more comorbidities [Charlson Comorbidity Index of 2.11 vs 0.96; p <0.001], and had increased mortality [4.6% vs 1.5%, p <0.001]. The risk of SPD was increased in Crohn's disease (hazard ratio [HR] 1.15; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-1.27) and with more comorbidities [HR 1.45; 95% CI 1.42-1.48]. Use of immunosuppressive medications increased the risk of SPD. Receipt of PCV13 either alone or in combination with PPSV23 predicted a 5-fold decreased risk of SPD compared with no vaccination. CONCLUSIONS Risk factors for severe pneumococcal disease include having Crohn's disease, more comorbidities, and exposure to combination immunosuppression. Vaccination with PCV13 alone or in combination with PPSV23 and revaccination with PPSV23, was protective against SPD. All IBD patients should be evaluated for pneumococcal vaccination, particularly those receiving or expected to receive immunosuppressive therapies.
Analysis of Speckle Tracking Methods: Correlation and RF Interpolation

Speckle tracking are well known methods in ultrasound imaging to estimate the motion of each pixel from consecutive frames. Due to the low lateral resolution of ultrasound images, many methods of speckle tracking rely on interpolation to generate subsample accurate displacement. This interpolation is commonly performed on the correlation map generated by the sample level cross correlation calculation. This study applies interpolation to the correlation map, a standard speckle tracking practice, and compares this to data that instead interpolates the radio frequency (RF) data before correlation, which is shown to be beneficial. Estimation accuracy and the shape of the correlation map are compared for both interpolation of the correlation map and interpolation prior to correlation. These methods are tested on data sets generated by Field II to simulate an elastography phantom, with subsample lateral displacement. The RF interpolation method is more accurate than correlation interpolation with cubic spline fitting, showing that interpolation at the correlation level is not perfectly analogous to correlating an interpolated RF image.
Hurricane-Induced Sedimentation Improves Marsh Resilience and Vegetation Vigor under High Rates of Relative Sea Level Rise

During the next century coastal marsh sustainability will largely depend on whether or not marshes can keep pace with rising sea levels while weathering more frequent and/or intense storms. In particular, hurricanes have the potential to inflict widespread damage to coastal systems, but can also deliver nourishing inorganic sediment. To determine if hurricane-induced sedimentation can enhance marsh condition and promote marsh sustainability, even in regions of high relative sea level rise (RSLR), we experimentally assessed primary productivity and marsh resilience in marshes that were subject to various levels of hurricane-induced sedimentation in 2005 and 2008 in coastal Louisiana, where RSLR is accelerated due to land subsidence. Primary production and marsh resilience, i.e., recovery rate of plant cover after an experimental disturbance, increased in response to hurricane-induced sedimentation. Sedimentation led to a more oxidized soil environment, reduced porewater sulfide concentrations, and increased porewater phosphorus and exchangeable soil iron and manganese concentrations. Improved soil physicochemical conditions were likely responsible for the increased productivity and resilience, even with the high rates of RSLR the area experiences. This suggests that when storm-induced sedimentation is sufficient, stability of coastal marshes may be enhanced, at least for some time, helping to cope with sea level rise.
SALINITY VARIATIONS IN SEA ICE

The salinity distribution in multi-year sea ice is dependent on the ice topography and cannot be adequately represented by a single average profile. The cores collected from areas beneath surface hummocks generally showed a systematic increase in salinity with depth from 0‰ at the surface to about 4‰ at the base. The cores collected from areas beneath surface depressions were much more saline and displayed large salinity fluctuations. Salinity observations from sea ice of varying thicknesses and ages collected at various Arctic and sub-Arctic locations revealed a strong correlation between the average salinity of the ice and the ice thickness h. For salinity samples collected from cold sea ice at the end of the growth season, this relationship can be represented by two linear equations: ; . It is suggested that the pronounced break in slope at 0.4 m is due to a change in the dominant brine drainage mechanism from brine expulsion to gravity drainage. A linear regression for the data collected during the melt season gives . An annual cyclic variation of the mean salinity exists for multi-year sea ice. The mean salinity reaches a maximum at the end of the growth season and a minimum at the end of the melt season.
Modeling the Dynamic Rheological Bebavior of Agar Based Aqueous Binders

This study proposes a fundamental microstructural/rheological model for agar gels that describes their dynamic rheological behavior during gelation. The concept of a sigmoidal type temperature dependence of the monomeric friction coefficient, ξ o , of the agar molecule is introduced to describe the increase of relaxation times of the agar molecules with decreasing temperature. At high temperatures (close to 373 K), the model behaves like a dilute solution of flexible polymers. At low temperatures (close to 273 K) contributions from an equilibrium modulus term are predominant. Dynamic rheology was employed to study the applicability of this model for agar gels. Gelation curves were obtained experimentally for various agar concentrations and cooling rates were fitted successfully to the theoretical model predictions.
An adaptive quantization method for burst mode synthetic aperture radar data

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) has high data rate because it collects and processes the data coherently. The data rate limitation of the system has to be satisfied while maintaining good image quality. Thus, a quantizer with minimum data rate and high SNR should be employed. An adaptive quantization method is proposed for the burst mode SAR. This adaptive quantizer uses uniformly quantized data to select a subset of bits which is equivalent to changing the step size of the uniform quantizer. A simple implementation which uses the previous burst data to compute the local statistics for the bit selection is presented. The use of previous burst simplifies the implementation because it does not require storage or delay; however, an abrupt change in the terrain could result in incorrect bit selection. An error analysis of this implementation and comparison of two burst mode SAR images formed using the uniformly quantized and adaptively quantized data is presented.
Dynamics of Trunk Performance during One-Handed Lifting:

This study investigated the biomechanical effects of using one hand to perform a materials handling task. Subjects were asked to lift a box from a lower to an upper platform using either one or two hands. Three weight levels and four lower platform positions were examined. Subjects wore a back monitor (from which was calculated motion components in the three cardinal planes of the body), stood on a force plate, and were asked to give a rating of perceived exertion for each lift. Results of this study showed that one-handed lifts produced significantly higher ranges of lumbar spine motion in the lateral and transverse planes and greater flexion in the sagittal plane. Back motion risk factors previously found to be associated with high risk of injury jobs all were significantly higher for one-handed lifts. Two-handed lifts, however, produced overall faster motions in the sagittal plane, and equal or larger acceleration and deceleration magnitudes in all planes of motion. Results from the psychophysical meas...
The Global Financial Crisis: Predictions, Causes, Effects, Policies, Reforms and Prospects

Abstract The paper examines the causes, effects, policies, and the prospects for rapid recovery and growth after the deepest world financial and economic crisis since the Great Depression. The paper then examines the regulatory and supervisory systems in the United States and Europe before the crisis, the proposed reforms of those systems, as well as reforms of the entire world financial system, and the likelihood that those reforms will succeed in preventing future financial crises.
Plasmalemmal vesicles function as transcytotic carriers for small proteins in the continuous endothelium

We investigated the location and the structural identity of the small pore system, postulated by the pore theory of capillary permeability, using a murine heart perfusion system and small protein molecules as preferential probes for the small pores. Dinitrophenylated proteins were perfused in situ in the absence and in the presence of N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), a reagent known to interfere with membrane fusion of vesicular carriers with their target membranes. The exit pathways of the tracers from vascular lumina to the interstitia were followed by immunoelectron microscopy and by tissue fractionation biochemistry to quantitate their transport and to estimate the extent of transport inhibition by NEM. After 5 min of perfusion, all tracers used were found essentially restricted to plasmalemmal vesicles (PVs) within the endothelium and NEM inhibited their transport by 80-85%. The transport of [14C]inulin and [14C]sucrose, assumed to follow the paracellular pathway, was marginally affected by NEM. These findings indicate that PVs function as structural equivalents of the small pore system for molecules >2 nm in diameter.
Escalation of a fetish: Coprophagia in a nonpsychotic adult of normal intelligence

Abstract A 4 7year-old man is desm'bed whose fetish of fecal smearing, cupre philia, escalated to cofmphagia in a setting of depression and alcohol abuse. The case is the first described in a nonpsychotic adult of normal intelligence. Treatment focused upon the depression and substance abuse as well as on the psychodynamic issues that fostered his despair and allowed the fetish to evolve into coprophagia.
Comparison of aspirated and radiation-compensating thermocouples

As part of an effort to develop techniques for making more accurate flame temperature measurements, the author compared the performance of a self-compensating thermocouple with that of the more complex and expensive aspirated thermocouple.
Cellular Uptake of Lead Is Activated by Depletion of Intracellular Calcium Stores

The mechanisms of cellular lead uptake were characterized using a fluorescence method in cells loaded with indo-1. Pb2+ bound to intracellular indo-1 with much higher affinity than Ca2+ and quenched fluorescence at all wavelengths. Pb2+ uptake into pituitary GH3 cells, glial C6 cells, and a subclone of HEK293 cells was assessed by fluorescence quench at a Ca2+-insensitive emission wavelength. Pb2+ uptake was concentration- and time-dependent. Pb2+ uptake in all three cell types occurred at a much faster rate when intracellular Ca2+ stores were depleted by two different methods: addition of drugs that inhibit the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump (thapsigargin, cyclopiazonic acid, and tert-butylhydroquinone), and prolonged incubation of cells in Ca2+-free media. Application of receptor agonists, which deplete intracellular Ca2+ stores via inositol trisphosphate-sensitive channels, did not activate Pb2+ uptake. Agonists were just as effective as thapsigargin in stimulating uptake of Ca2+ but less so in stimulating uptake of Mn2+. Basal and stimulated Pb2+ uptake were partially reduced by 1 mM extracellular Ca2+ and strongly inhibited by 10 mM Ca2+. Pb2+ entry in GH3 cells was inhibited by two drugs that block capacitative Ca2+ entry, La3+ and SK&F 96365. Depolarization of electrically excitable GH3 cells increased the initial rate of Pb2+ uptake 1.6-fold, whereas thapsigargin increased uptake 12-fold. In conclusion, Pb2+ crosses the plasma membrane of GH3, C6, and HEK293 cells via channels that are activated by profound depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores.
Correlation-aware sparse support recovery: Gaussian sources

Consider a multiple measurement vector (MMV) model given by y[n] = Axs[n]; 1 ≤ n ≤ L where equation denote the L measurement vectors, A ∈ RM×N is the measurement matrix and xs[n] ∈ RN are the unknown vectors with same sparsity support denoted by the set S0 with |S0| = D. It has been shown in a recent paper by the authors that when the elements of xs[n] are uncorrelated from each other, one can recover sparsity levels as high as O(M2) for suitably designed measurement matrix. The recovery is exact when support recovery algorithms are applied on the ideal correlation matrix. When we only have estimates of the correlation, it is still possible to probabilistically argue the recovery of sparsity levels (using a coherence based argument) that is much higher than that guaranteed by existing coherence based results. However the lower bound on the probability of success is found to increase rather slowly with L (as 1-C/L for some constant C > 0) without any further assumption on the distribution of the source vectors. In this paper, we demonstrate that when the source vectors belong to a Gaussian distribution with diagonal covariance matrix, it is possible to guarantee the recovery of original support with overwhelming probability. We also provide numerical simulations to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy by comparing it with other popular MMV based methods.
Beneficial effects of berry fruit polyphenols on neuronal and behavioral aging

It is becoming increasingly clear that although there is a great deal of research being devoted to elucidating the molecular mechanisms involved in aging, practical information on how to forestall or reverse the deleterious effects of aging may be years away. Therefore, it may be beneficial to determine other methods to improve the quality of life in the aging population. A plethora of epidemiological studies have indicated that individuals who consume a diet containing high amounts of fruits and vegetables may have a reduced incidence of age-associated diseases such as cardiovascular or neurodegenerative diseases. Research from our laboratory has suggested that supplementation with fruit or vegetable extracts high in antioxidants can decrease the enhanced vulnerability to oxidative stress and inflammation that occurs in aging, and that these reductions are expressed as improvements in behavior. In addition to research indicating the antioxidant or anti-inflammatory functions of the polyphenolic compounds found in these fruits and vegetables, further studies have suggested that other mechanisms such as cellular signaling may contribute to the beneficial effects of these compounds on aging.
Separation of N-Acetylglucosamine and N-Acetylmannosamine by Chromatography on Sephadex in Borate Buffer

Abstract Several procedures have been used previously for the separation of N -acetylglucosamine and N -acetylmannosamine, which are based on the difference in strength of the borate complexes of the two N -acetylhexosamines and include paper chromatography on borate-treated paper, paper electrophoresis in borate buffer, and anion-exchange chromatography of the borate complexes. In the present study, we have observed that the two sugars, despite their identical size in noncomplexed form, may also be separated by gel chromatography in borate buffer. Nearly complete resolution was obtained by chromatography on a column (1.5 × 117 cm) of Sephadex G-15, which was eluted at room temperature with 0.27 M sodium borate, pH 7.8 (prepared from H 3 BO 3 by addition of NaOH), at a flow rate of 10 ml/h. This procedure complements existing methods for the separation of N -acetylmannosamine and N -acetylglucosamine and has the advantage that it can be carried out on a relatively large preparative scale.
Origin of life-proposed mechanisms for primeval polynucleotide and peptide chain synthesis.

Abstract A detailed hypothetical non-enzymatic replicative system for the primordial production of peptide chains and polynucleotide chains is proposed, in which the polynucleotide chains are assigned template properties in the assembly of the amino acids. The mechanism for polypeptide chain synthesis rests upon the assumption that amino acids can form specific attachments to the edges of polynucleotide doublets of the polynucleotide template strands through hydrogen bonds or other types of bonding. The amino acids are then assumed to form more firm links with the template strands by esterification of the amino acid carboxyl groups with the C2′OH groups of the polynucleotide strands, and finally to peel off from the latter in the form of polypeptide chains through the process of amide bond formation. The non-enzymatic formation of single- and double-stranded polynucleotides is also discussed, and the hypothetical system proposed depicts the formation of polynucleotide and polypeptide chains as a coupled process.
Christian Faith and Civic Education: Moving Beyond the Culture Wars

(2007). Christian Faith and Civic Education: Moving Beyond the Culture Wars. Theory & Research in Social Education: Vol. 35, No. 1, pp. 135-138.
Simulated co-optimization of crystalline silicon solar cell throughput and efficiency using continuously ramping phosphorus diffusion profiles

Defect engineering is essential for the production of high-performance silicon photovoltaic (PV) devices with cost-effective solar-grade Si input materials. Phosphorus diffusion gettering (PDG) can mitigate the detrimental effect of metal impurities on PV device performance. Using the Impurity-to-Efficiency (I2E) simulator, we investigate the effect of gettering temperature on minority carrier lifetime while maintaining an approximately constant sheet resistance. We simulate a typical constant temperature plateau profile and an alternative “volcano” profile that consists of a ramp up to a peak temperature above the typical plateau temperature followed by a ramp down with no hold time. Our simulations show that for a given PDG process time, the “volcano” produces an increase in minority carrier lifetime compared to the standard plateau profile for as-grown iron distributions that are typical for multicrystalline silicon. For an initial total iron concentration of 5×1013 cm−3, we simulate a 30% increase in minority carrier lifetime for a fixed PDG process time and a 43% reduction in PDG process cost for a given effective minority carrier lifetime while achieving a constant sheet resistance of 100 Ω/□.
Continuity of Care, Professional Community, and the Policy Context: Potential Benefits for Infant and Toddler Teachers' Professional Development

Practice or Policy: Continuity of care (COC) has many benefits for young children's development but is not the norm in infant/toddler classrooms. As a consequence, policymakers might not realize how such an approach might also benefit the professional development of infant and toddler teachers, particularly if they come to the field with little formal training. Although the supports and policies available to military child development centers may not be possible to implement at present in much of the civilian sector, this study suggests that their potential benefit for infant/toddler teachers' learning and practice may be worthy of further inquiry. Research Findings: This study shares the results of an exploratory study of the benefits of COC, professional community, and the larger policy context for staff working in a military child development center serving children aged 0 to 2. COC-related professional development also seems to enhance professional community, which along with the policy context is vie...
CELEBRATING PLACE THROUGH LUXURY CRAFT PRODUCTION: Travesia and Ulua style marble vases

This paper explores the production of Late to Terminal Classic Ulua marble vases (ca. 600/650–800/850 a.d.), the hallmark luxury good from the lower Ulua Valley of northwestern Honduras. Unlike other areas of the greater Maya world, no one center appears to have held political sway in the valley. Yet marble-vase production at Travesia indicates that, through the patronization of this specific artifact, the site was able to celebrate its identity at home as well as abroad. Here the long-term production of the vases is investigated through a detailed analysis of stylistic groups and corresponding stable-isotope signatures from vases and potential procurement zones. The stylistic data suggest centralized production, which is confirmed through chemical signatures of vases and one specific procurement site. We argue that longstanding traditions of carving vases from marble in the Ulua Valley guided Travesian artisans in their procurement choices. The stylistic and chemical data augment settlement and ceramic data to situate vase production in its local social and political environment. In this case, luxury production corresponds not to a rise in central political authority but, rather, to a centrally located social center. The prestige granted to these luxury vases, then, stems from local histories of social and political networks that linked, rather than fragmented, communities. The results indicate that studies of material-cultural remains should consider the relationships between distinctive local social relations and the organization of craft production as integrative, not separate, processes.
Urban sprawl and miles driven daily by teenagers in the United States.

Methods: Driving and demographic data for 4528 teens (weighted10.5 million) aged 1 6–19 years were obtained from the 2001 National Household Transportation Survey (NHTS). County-level sprawl was measured using an index developed by Ewing et al. The association between daily miles driven by teens and sprawl, controlling for demographic characteristics, was modeled using ordinal logistic regression. The predicted probability of driving 20 miles in counties with varying degrees of sprawl also was calculated. Results: Of the surveyed teens, 48% did not drive, 27% drove 20 miles/day, and 25% drove 20 miles/day. Of the 52% of teens who reported driving, the average distance driven was 15.6 miles/day. More-pronounced sprawl was associated with increased daily mileage (p0.001). Overall, teens in sprawling counties were more than twice as likely to drive 20 miles/day than teens in compact counties. This trend was most prominent among the youngest drivers. For example, the predicted probability of boys aged 1 6–17 years driving 20 miles per day varied from 9% to 24% in compact versus sprawling counties. Conclusions: Sprawl is associated with increased daily mileage by teen drivers. Given the stark relationship between driving exposure and fatality risk among teens, increased efforts to understand and modify the effects of sprawl on adolescent driving behavior are necessary. (Am J Prev Med 2008;34(3):202–206) © 2008 American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Combining Multiple Measures of Students' Opportunities to Develop Analytic, Text-Based Writing Skills

Guided by evidence that teachers contribute to student achievement outcomes, researchers have been reexamining how to study instruction and the classroom opportunities teachers create for students. We describe our experience measuring students' opportunities to develop analytic, text-based writing skills. Utilizing multiple methods of data collection—writing assignment tasks, daily logs, and an annual survey—we generated a composite that was used in prediction models to examine multivariate outcomes, including scores on a state accountability test and a project-developed response-to-text assessment. Our findings demonstrate that students' opportunities to develop analytic, text-based writing skills predicted classroom performance on the project-developed response-to-text assessment. We discuss the importance of considering the measure(s) of learning when examining teaching–learning associations as well as implications for combining multiple measures for purposes of better construct representation.
Aerodynamic study of a vane-cascade swirl generator

Abstract The air flow through a vane-cascade swirl generator is examined both experimentally and numerically to characterize the inlet combustion air flow entering a reference spray combustion facility at NIST. A three-dimensional model is used to simulate the aerodynamics in the 12-vane-cascade swirl generator that imparts the desired degree of angular momentum to the air in the annulus leading into the reactor. A numerical simulation using the renormalization group method (RNG) k – e turbulence model results in a velocity profile consistent with experimental measurements, and correctly predicts a recirculation zone that is experimentally observed at the exit of the annular passage. The standard k – e turbulence model does not compare as well with the experimental data and fails to predict the recirculation zone at the exit. This work is part of a larger project at NIST in which benchmark data are collected for input and validation of multiphase combustion models, and the results presented provide a well-characterized inlet condition for the spray combustion reactor. The good agreement between the experimental data and the simulation with the RNG k – e turbulence model provides further validation for this model in confined, annular flows.
A Data-Intensive Approach to Named Entity Recognition Combining Contextual and Intrinsic Indicators

Over the past decade, huge volumes of valuable information have become available to organizations. However, the existence of a substantial part of the information in unstructured form makes the automated extraction of business intelligence and decision support information from it difficult. By identifying the entities and their roles within unstructured text in a process known as semantic named entity recognition, unstructured text can be made more readily available for traditional business processes. The authors present a novel NER approach that is independent of the text language and subject domain making it applicable within different organizations. It departs from the natural language and machine learning methods in that it leverages the wide availability of huge amounts of data as well as high-performance computing to provide a data-intensive solution. Also, it does not rely on external resources such as dictionaries and gazettes for the language or domain knowledge.
TU‐D‐BRC‐05: Influence of CT Image Noise On Proton Range Uncertainty

Purpose: To evaluate the uncertainty of computed proton range in radiotherapytreatment planning which is attributed to random component in CT numbers. Method and Materials: We utilize a random number generator to simulate a white Gaussian noise in CT numbers along the proton pathlength. The proton range is computed using continuous slowing down approximation which is valid for most of proton range. To simulate the statistical straggling of computed proton range, this procedure is iteratively repeated to obtain convergence of proton range PDF which is approaching a Gaussian. The FWHM (full‐width at half maximum) of the range PDF is used as a measure of uncertainty. Results: We investigate parameters which affect the proton range uncertainty in the presence of CTimagenoise. These parameters may include 1) initial proton energy, 2) noise period and 3) noise amplitude. The FWHM of range PDF increases linearly with the noise period. These results indicate that low frequency fluctuations in CTimagenoise can significantly increase the range uncertainty. We have also computed the range PDF as a function of initial proton energy. The FWHM of range PDF increases linearly with the initial proton energy. For the maximum proton energy of 250 MeV, the FWHM of proton range PDF can achieve a value of 5 mm in the presence of CTimagenoise. We note that the ratio FWHM/range increases as the proton range decreases; therefore, the relative range uncertainty is larger for smaller ranges. Conclusions: Range uncertainties due to CTimagenoise can be significant and comparable to the uncertainties attributed to the calibration of CT numbers. The relative range uncertainty increases as the range decreases. Noise reduction in CTimages using smoothing and denoising algorithms can be recommended to reduce the standard deviation of range PDF.
Short-lived isotopes of Nb and Zr from fission

Abstract The previously-reported nuclides 98Nb, 99Nb, and 99Zr, plus three other short-lived β-emitters tentatively identified as 100Nb, 101Nb and 98Zr, have been observed in the Nb and Zr fractions rapidly separated from 235U fission products. The properties observed are as follows. 98Nb: t 1 2 = 51·5 ± 1·0 min ; Eγ (MeV) = 0·330 ± 0·005, 0·720 ± 0·010, 0·780 ± 0·010, 1·16, 1·44, 1·52, 1·68, 1·88, 1·93, 2·24 and 2·7; Eβmax = 3·1 ± 0·2 MeV; Qβ = 4·6 ± 0·2 MeV. 99Nb: t 1 2 = 2·4 ± 0·3 min ; Eγ (MeV) = 0·100 ± 0·002, 0·260 ± 0·005. 99Zr: t 1 2 = 35 ± 5 sec . 100Nb: t 1 2 = 3·0 ± 0·3 min ; Eγ (MeV) = 0·140 ± 0·005, 0·360 ± 0·010, 0·450 ± 0·010, 0·530 ± 0·010, 0·65, 2·2, 2·3, 2·65 and 2·8. 101Nb: t 1 2 = 1·0 ± 0·2 min . 98Zr: t 1 2 ∼ 1 min . A search was made for a low-spin isomer of 96Nb by rapid β- and γ-counting of Zr samples which had been bombarded with 3·0–5·5 MeV protons. No activity attributable to such an isomer was observed. The low-spin isometric state, if it exists, has a half-life less than 5 sec.
Anchoring and relational judgments by young children and retardates.

In five experiments using as dimensions brightness, texture, facial happiness, height, and weight, young children (ages 3.4 to 5.3 years) rendered bipolar judgments of stimuli intermediate in value between a1ternately given extreme anchors. Consistent relational shifts away from the anchors were found for all dimensions judged, and these effects proved virtually independent of children's ages, the sequential orders of stimulus and anchor presentation, or the provision of overt visual mernory props. Evidence of relational judgment within the narrower range of the test stimuli alone was also found. Essentially similar relational judgments were replicated with a sampie of severe adult mental retardates.
The politics of homeschools: Religious conservatives and regulation requirements

Over the last few decades, the number of homeschools in the United States (US) has grown, and a large proportion is attributed to increases in religiously affiliated homeschools (Kunzman, 2009). Ho...
Co-utilization of glucose, xylose and cellobiose by the oleaginous yeast Cryptococcus curvatus

Simultaneous utilization of mixed sugars is one of the major challenges for biofuel production utilizing lignocellulosic biomass as feedstock. Our previous work proved that the oleaginous yeast Cryptococcus curvatus could efficiently produce lipids, the precursors of hydrocarbons with high energy density, from lignocellulosic hydrolysates. However, the strain's capability of simultaneously utilizing primary sugars was still unknown. Thus, this work comprehensively explored the co-utilization of glucose, xylose and cellobiose by C. curvatus. The results indicated that the consumption of both xylose and cellobiose was repressed by glucose, while xylose and cellobiose could be simultaneously consumed at similar rates. The total sugar consumption rates remained constant at about 0.6 g L−1 h−1 regardless of the sugar composition in the mixtures, and the cell biomass and lipid production by C. curvatus cultured on the different sugar mixtures were similar. Moreover, compared with glucose and xylose, cellobiose could lead to higher dry cell weights and lipid yields, suggesting an excellent carbon source for lipid production. Based on these findings, this study demonstrated an effective approach for alleviating glucose repression for microbial lipid production by C. curvatus through xylose/cellobiose co-utilization which would greatly contribute to a more efficient and economical cellulosic biofuel production.
Exploiting π shielding interactions in a η6 arene-complexed chiral auxiliary

Abstract The origin of asymmetric induction in a chiral auxiliary derived from isomannide was probed using a series of η6 arene chromium carbonyl complexes. Diastereoselectivity as high as 99% was attainable, and subsequent spectroscopic analysis shed light on the role of π–π interactions.
“La resistencia”: Tampa's immigrant labor union

(1965). “La resistencia”: Tampa's immigrant labor union. Labor History: Vol. 6, No. 3, pp. 193-213.
Analysis for the rare-earth elements by neutron activation and Ge(Li) spectrometry

A procedure for analysis of 12 of the rare-earths, tested on more than a hundred samples of rocks and minerals, is described. Carrier is added for each element to be determined. Samples are fused with Na2O2. The rare-earths are separated as a group, then precipitated and mounted as oxalates for Ge(Li) spectrometry. Following radioassay, chemical yields for the individual rare-earths are obtained by irradiation and counting of the carrier. About two months are needed to obtain complete data for a set of four samples, but many samples are analyzed concurrently. The precision and accuracy exceed ±5 per cent for 10 of the elements in 0.1 to 0.5 g samples of common rocks.
Stimulated Cellular Response of Novel Hybrid Network Structure Elastomers with Inorganic Short Chain Cross‐Links for Soft Tissue Reconstruction

The flexible and highly ductile silicone elastomer widely used as a soft-tissue substitute for joint reconstruction and replacement fragments prematurely because of low tensile strength and inadequate bone build-up around the implants. In this regard, an excellent vehicle to favorably modulate cellular response and retain intrinsic elastic recovery of soft tissue implants is to consider hybrid network structure elastomers with inorganic short chain cross-links. The concept involves covalently linking nanocrystalline titania with a bi-functional agent, acrylic acid, which has a carboxylic group to coordinate with titania and a vinyl group to form short chain cross-links as an integral part of the silicone network during curing at elevated pressure. This approach provides high strength-at-break and undiminished intrinsic ductility of silicone elastomer and high cytocompatibility. Interestingly, cellular response is favorably modulated, as described here. The biologic response in terms of initial cell attachment, cell viability, and proliferation was consistently greater in relation to stand alone silicone elastomer such that cell spreading, morphology, and density were distinctly different. Pre-osteoblasts grown on hybrid network structure elastomers were widely spread on the surface as a sheet after a culture time of 24 h. In contrast, these features were less pronounced on the stand alone silicone elastomer. Furthermore, immunofluorescence study illustrated distinct fibronectin expression level, stronger vinculin focal adhesion contacts associated with abundant actin stress fibers in pre-osteoblasts grown on hybrid network structure elastomer compared to stand alone silicone elastomer, implying enhanced cell–substrate interactions. This finding was consistent with the observation of total protein content and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel analysis. Based on the study described here, our hypothesis is that silicone–titania network structure elastomer with high strength–high ductility combination and favorable cellular response is a model hybrid network structure elastomer for joint reconstruction and soft tissue substitution. The integration of cellular and molecular biology with materials science and engineering aspects described here provides a new direction toward the development of new generation of hybrid network structure silicone elastomer. This subject is germane from the view point of fundamental understanding and from the view of hybrid elastomers as soft tissue reconstruction.
Genetic drift in small and recently founded populations of the marine snail Littorina Saxatilis

The intertidal snail, L. saxatilis lacks a pelagic stage and migration between populations inhabiting different islands is rare. Small skerries, which are very young habitats, due to the proceeding post-glacial elevation of land, are likely to have been populated by small groups of snails. Mayr's “founder principle” predicts a “genetic revolution” in populations established in this way. Allozyme data, however, reveal but a slight decrease in the level of heterozygosity within these skerry populations, as compared to those of islands and mainland. A probable explanation for this is that although the founding group may consist of only one fertilised female, sperm storage, year-round reproduction, and density-dependent selection enable such populations to expand rapidly in a formerly empty habitat. As has been shown by Nei and coworkers, this will largely impede the loss of genetic variation during the founder event. Isolated populations of L. saxatilis indicate that founder events need not lead to drastic genetic alterations.
Indentation measurements using a dynamic mechanical analyzer

A dynamic mechanical analyzer equipped with a diamond indenter tip was used to measure the elastic modulus of polymeric coatings as well as various bulk materials. A fabricated indenter probe was used to indent bulk samples of aluminum and fused quartz, as well as gelatin and polystyrene films in order to compare the micron-level indentation measurements with sub-micron (nanoindentation) techniques. The measured moduli were in agreement for ductile materials and thick films (> 20 μm), but limited displacement resolution, material cracking, and hydrostatic pressure effects led to diverging values for thinner coatings and more brittle materials.
Aerosol light absorption and its measurement: A review

Abstract Light absorption by aerosols contributes to solar radiative forcing through absorption of solar radiation and heating of the absorbing aerosol layer. Besides the direct radiative effect, the heating can evaporate clouds and change the atmospheric dynamics. Aerosol light absorption in the atmosphere is dominated by black carbon (BC) with additional, significant contributions from the still poorly understood brown carbon and from mineral dust. Sources of these absorbing aerosols include biomass burning and other combustion processes and dust entrainment. For particles much smaller than the wavelength of incident light, absorption is proportional to the particle volume and mass. Absorption can be calculated with Mie theory for spherical particles and with more complicated numerical methods for other particle shapes. The quantitative measurement of aerosol light absorption is still a challenge. Simple, commonly used filter measurements are prone to measurement artifacts due to particle concentration and modification of particle and filter morphology upon particle deposition, optical interaction of deposited particles and filter medium, and poor angular integration of light scattered by deposited particles. In situ methods measure particle absorption with the particles in their natural suspended state and therefore are not prone to effects related to particle deposition and concentration on filters. Photoacoustic and refractive index-based measurements rely on the heating of particles during light absorption, which, for power-modulated light sources, causes an acoustic signal and modulation of the refractive index in the air surrounding the particles that can be quantified with a microphone and an interferometer, respectively. These methods may suffer from some interference due to light-induced particle evaporation. Laser-induced incandescence also monitors particle heating upon absorption, but heats absorbing particles to much higher temperatures to quantify BC mass from the thermal radiation emitted by the heated particles. Extinction-minus-scattering techniques have limited sensitivity for measuring aerosol light absorption unless the very long absorption paths of cavity ring-down techniques are used. Systematic errors can be dominated by truncation errors in the scattering measurement for large particles or by subtraction errors for high single scattering albedo particles. Remote sensing techniques are essential for global monitoring of aerosol light absorption. While local column-integrated measurements of aerosol light absorption with sun and sky radiometers are routinely done, global satellite measurements are so far largely limited to determining a semi-quantitative UV absorption index.
The strong, linear hydrogen bond in Al2H−7

Abstract Self-consistent field calculations have been used to determine the equilibrium structure of Al 2 H − 7 . The unique AlHAl bond is confirmed to be linear and symmetric. Breaking the hydrogen bond to form AlH 3 and AlH 4 requires a hefty 37 kcal. Electron correlation plays a small role in the relative energetics, and so the nature of this strong hydrogen bond can be understood within a molecular orbital picture. The bridging proton acts as a bond stretcher to minimize electrostatic repulsion between the two halves of the ion.
How can fecundity be preserved in patients undergoing pelvic surgery

Fecundity is an important issue for women with ulcerative colitis or familial adenomatous polyposis who undergo resection of the rectum and creation of a restorative pouch. This Viewpoint article discusses the available literature on fecundity and fertility in these patients, directions for future treatments and the prevention of infertility in this patient population.
Are there cultural differences in how we play? Examining cultural effects on playing social network games

Digital games embedded in social network sites are one of the driving forces behind the expansion of digital gamer populations. Previous studies have observed different usage patterns between users in different ethnic groups and countries, suggesting that culture orientations may affect how people play and interact through social network games. This study examined how people's culture orientations affect usage patterns with measures of vertical and horizontal individualism-collectivism. The findings indicate that culture does not directly affect usage patterns. Instead, the effects on usage patterns are mediated by people's expected outcomes of playing social network games. Vertical culture orientations predicted social expected outcomes. Individualism predicted status expected outcomes, but in different directions on the dimensions of vertical or horizontalness. Vertical collectivism was the only culture orientation that indirectly predicted buying in-game products with real money. Implications for game designers and markers are discussed.