cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Childhood Development and Education in China: Breaking the Cycle of Poverty and Improving Future Competitiveness

This chapter starts with the history of the early childhood care and education (1949–post 2010) in China. Then it discusses the legal framework and policies. In light of the tremendous social benefits and high economic returns of human capital investments, Chinese government has made it a national priority to invest in young children to ensure higher productivity among the next generation, so as to sustain the development of the country and to improve its future competitiveness on a global platform. Moreover, this chapter explores the challenges facing high-quality ECCE in China. It concludes with some implications for future policy and research.
Treatment of obstructive sleep apnea with CPAP improves chronic inflammation measured by neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio.

Study Objectives:Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with chronic inflammation likely triggered by nocturnal, intermittent hypoxemia and increased adrenergic tone. The neutrophil-to-lymphoc...
Mitochondrial DNA: the common confusions.

In theory, scientific discovery follows the path of putting forward a hypothesis, testing it and either accepting it as a theory or discarding it based on the outcome of testing. As it often happen...
Community Resilience Optimization Subject to Power Flow Constraints in Cyber-Physical-Social Systems in Power Engineering.

This paper develops a community resilience optimization method subject to power flow constraints in the Cyber-Physical-Social Systems in Power Engineering, which is solved using a multi-agent-based algorithm. The tool that makes the nexus between electricity generation on the physical side and the consumers and the critical loads on the social side is the power flow algorithm. Specifically, the levels of emotion, empathy, cooperation, and the physical health of the consumers, prosumers are modeled in the proposed community resilience optimization approach while accounting for the electric power system constraints and their impact on the critical loads, which include hospitals, shelters, and gas stations, to name a few. The optimization accounts for the fact that the level of satisfaction of the society, the living standards, and the social well-being are depended on the supply of energy, including electricity. Evidently, the lack of electric energy resulting from load shedding has an impact on both the mental and the psychical quality of life, which in turn affects the community resilience. The developed constrained community resilience optimization method is applied to two case studies, including a two-area 6-buses system and a modified IEEE RTS 24-bus system. Simulation results reveal that a decrease in the initial values of the emotion, the risk perception, and the social media platform effect factor entails an increase in load shedding, which in turn results in a decrease in community resilience. In contrast, an increase in the initial values of cooperation, empathy, physical health, the capacity of microgrids and distributed energy resources results in a decrease in the load shedding, which in turn induces an enhancement of the community resilience.
Seeded Growth of Nanoscale Semiconductor Tetrapods: Generality and the Role of Cation Exchange

Nanoscale tetrapods were synthesized with independently tunable core and arm sizes and aspect ratios from a spectrum of quantum dot seeds, including ZnTe, CuInS2, InP, InP/ZnS, and Cd3P2. The range...
Determining the Adult Population Fluctuation and Infestation Rate of European Grapevine Moth ( Lobesia Botrana (Denis & Schiffermüller) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)) in the Vineyards in Turkey

This study has been conducted in 2014 and 2015 in vineyards in Cermik district of Diyarbakir province where ‘Mazruni’ variety is grown commonly. Purpose of the study was to determine some control criteria of grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana Denis & Schiffermuller (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)) such as the first sight of adults in nature, adult population fluctuations, active period of adults in nature, number of seeds and infestation rate of the European grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana Denis & Schiffermuller (Lep.: Tortricidae)) in vineyards. Conclusion of the study was that in both years, the first flight of L. botrana adults was observed in 6–14 April and the pest had three peaks a year (5–11 May, 29 June–7 July, 11–17 August). Furthermore, it was observed that the first peak coincided with flowering period (May, 1. generation), the second occurred during unripe grape period (June and July 2. generation), and the third coincided with the beginning of sweetening period (August, 3. generation). Adult flights of L. botrana ended on 12–20 October and it was determined that it was active for seven months in nature (mid-April to late October) and it completed 3 generations per year. The infestation rate of L. botrana was determined as 12% and 15% respectively for the two years in the vineyards of Bintas village‑1 while the rates were only 10% and 18% in the vineyards of Bintas village‑2.
Fabrication and Characterization of In Situ Zn-TiB2 Nanocomposite.

Abstract Zinc (Zn) matrix composite has been newly discovered categories of biodegradable materials. With a combination of chemical stability, thermal stability and biocompatibility, ceramic nanoparticles outperformed intermetallics of zinc alloys with inherent advantages of retaining a proper corrosion rate and an exceptional ductility. Compared with Zn alloys, Zn matrix nanocomposites showed an unprecedented strengthening without sacrifices of corrosion rate, which were introduced by intermetallics. In this work, in situ titanium diboride (TiB2) reinforced Zn nanocomposite was prepared via a few cost-effective and economical methods: flux-assisted synthesis (FAS), ultrasound-assisted nanoparticle homogenization and hot rolling. 3 vol.% of TiB2 nanoparticles were synthesized with an average size of 454nm, followed by molten salt assisted ultrasound homogenization and hot rolling. Hot-rolled (HR) Zn-TiB2 performed high strength and high ductility, mostly due to precipitation strengthening (Orowan strengthening). Yield stress (YS) and ultimate tensile stress (UTS) increased by 90% and 45%, respectively, while the elongation to failure retained 23%. The mechanical performance of Zn-TiB2 made it promise to serve as an innovative biodegradable material for load-bearing applications.
Horror, Crisis, and Control: Tales of Facing Evils

Crisis theory comes from diverse politics. All warn of political illegitimacy, dystopian society, or civilizational collapse. So encompassing are these troubles that we typically fail to sense our jeopardy straightforwardly. Crisis theory connects historical dynamics with everyday realities to reveal what monstrous developments await us ordinary people. Popular horror joins crisis theory in facing realities gone radically wrong. The stakes are ultimate: often the soul, even the world. The challenge is to face and defeat evils. Horror seeks to recognize our evils soon and skillfully enough to thwart them. Stephen King and Peter Straub are especially good at this. They sideline theoretical abstractions of crisis theory with provocative details and potent symbols for our everyday lives. Thus they do crisis theory by other, better means. They face ours as times of terrible troubles, yet with figures more engaging and practical than many theories of civilizational crisis.
Interfacial Rashba-Effect-Induced Anisotropy in Nonmagnetic-Material-Ferrimagnetic-Insulator Bilayers

Interfacial magnetic anisotropy in magnetic insulators has been largely unexplored. Recently, interface-induced skyrmions and electrical control of magnetization have been discovered in insulator-based heterostructures, which demand a thorough understanding of interfacial interactions in these materials. We observe a substantial, tunable interfacial magnetic anisotropy between Tm_{3}Fe_{5}O_{12} epitaxial thin films and fifteen nonmagnetic materials spanning a significant portion of the periodic table, which we attribute to Rashba spin-orbit coupling. Our results show a clear distinction between nonmagnetic capping layers from the d block and the p block. This work offers a new path for controlling magnetic phases in magnetic insulators for low-loss spintronic applications.
Patient experience and quality of life during neoadjuvant therapy for pancreatic cancer: a systematic review and study protocol.

Neoadjuvant therapy (NT) is increasingly being offered to patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) prior to surgical resection. However, the experience and quality of life (QOL) of patients undergoing NT are poorly understood. A systematic review of the Cinahl, Embase, Medline, Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases was conducted to evaluate the available literature pertaining to the experience and QOL of patient’s undergoing NT for PDAC. Among 6041 articles screened, only six met criteria for full-text review including three prospective clinical trials of NT with QOL secondary endpoints. Overall, global QOL during or following NT did not significantly change from baseline. Pain scores seemed to improve during NT while the impact of NT on physical functioning varied across studies. No studies were identified evaluating other aspects of the patient experience. Although NT appears to have a minor impact on the QOL of patients with PDAC, this systematic review identified significant evidence gaps in the literature. A protocol of a prospective observational cohort study utilizing a digital smartphone app that aims to evaluate the patient experience and longitudinal QOL of patients with PDAC undergoing NT is presented.
Biometric Authentication and Stationary Detection of Human Subjects by Deep Learning of Passive Infrared (PIR) Sensor Data

Deep learning has shown to be capable of learning features from complex datasets such as in the case of biometric authentication. Biometric authentication relies on unique biological qualities to verify a user's identity against a group of potential adversaries for security purposes. In this paper, a deep learning dependent biometric authentication system based on chest motion data captured by a passive infrared (PIR) sensor, CM-PIR, is proposed. PIR sensors are cheap, commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components that are dependent on motion across its field of view (FoV) for accurate detection of human subjects. Thus, CM-PIR utilizes deep learning for the accurate detection of stationary human subjects, as well as for biometric authentication. CM-PIR collects chest motion data from sixteen human subjects in nine different home locations. Coefficients of Fourier transform (FFT), discrete wavelet transform (DWT), and the absolute value of an acceleration filter calculated from the raw voltage PIR values were selected as the optimal features for input to the deep learning models for biometric authentication. Preprocessing of these features included a threshold voltage range, normalization, and finally principal component analysis (PCA). CM-PIR is 94% accurate in stationary human presence detection and 75% accurate for biometric authentication using a RNN with a 90 second window size. This work provides a promising solution for stationary human detection and biometric authentication using a PIR sensor in a real-world setting.
Job Characteristics on Large-Scale Systems: Long-Term Analysis, Quantification, and Implications

HPC workload analysis and resource consumption characteristics are the key to driving better operation practices, system procurement decisions, and designing effective resource management techniques. Unfortunately, the HPC community does not have easy accessibility to long-term introspective work-load analysis and characterization for production-scale HPC systems. This study bridges this gap by providing detailed long-term quantification, characterization, and analysis of job characteristics on two supercomputers: Intrepid and Mira. This study is one of the largest of its kind – covering trends and characteristics for over three billion compute hours, 750 thousand jobs, and spanning a decade. We confirm several long-held conventional wisdom, and identify many previously undiscovered trends and its implications. We also introduce a learning based technique to predict the resource requirement of future jobs with high accuracy, using features available prior to the job submission and without requiring any application-specific tracing or application-intrusive instrumentation.
Hydroxyurea Use Associated with Nonverbal and Executive Skills in Sickle Cell Anemia.

Objective Hydroxyurea (HU) is used in children with sickle cell disease (SCD) to increase fetal hemoglobin (HF), contributing to a decrease in physical symptoms and potential protection against cerebral microvasculopathy. There has been minimal investigation into the association between HU use and cognition in this population. This study examined the relationship between HU status and cognition in children with SCD. Methods Thirty-seven children with SCD HbSS or HbS/β0 thalassaemia (sickle cell anemia; SCA) ages 4:0-11 years with no history of overt stroke or chronic transfusion completed a neuropsychological test battery. Other medical, laboratory, and demographic data were obtained. Neuropsychological function across 3 domains (verbal, nonverbal, and attention/executive) was compared for children on HU (n = 9) to those not taking HU (n = 28). Results Children on HU performed significantly better than children not taking HU on standardized measures of attention/executive functioning and nonverbal skills. Performance on verbal measures was similar between groups. Conclusions These results suggest that treatment with HU may not only reduce physical symptoms, but may also provide potential benefit to cognition in children with SCA, particularly in regard to attention/executive functioning and nonverbal skills. Replication with larger samples and longitudinal studies are warranted.
Fault Diagnostics Using Network Motif Signature

In modern vehicles, controls are distributed over multiple Electronic Control Units (ECUs) that are connected through in-vehicle communication networks. Fault diagnostics for such a distributed control system is very challenging, which has resulted in many no-trouble-found (NTF) cases during warranty repairs. To address this problem, we propose a novel network-theoretic approach that detects, identifies, and localizes faults using both the structure of the communication network (topological information) and message flow information. The proposed method not only enables the characterization of normal operation and a-priori known faults across communication networks, which is already beyond the current practice of individual ECU centric diagnostics, but also the diagnostics of unknown or cascading failures emerging from unexpected operational environments.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of outcomes after acute limb ischemia in patients with cancer

Abstract Background Cancer results in a hypercoagulable state that is associated with both venous and arterial thromboses. However, little is known about the effects of acute limb ischemia (ALI) in this cohort of patients. In the present systematic review and meta-analysis, we analyzed the available clinical data on cancer and its association with ALI and evaluated the outcomes in these patients after a diagnosis of ALI. Methods Three databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library, were queried. Studies that met the inclusion criteria were included regardless of the publication year, language, sample size, or follow-up length. All the steps of the meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with the PRISMA (preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses) and MOOSE (meta-analysis of observational studies in epidemiology) guidelines. Results Seven studies from 6222 references with a total of 2899 patients were included. Of the 2899 patients, 1195 (41%) had had a diagnosis of ALI before their cancer diagnosis, and 1704 (59%) had presented with ALI after a cancer diagnosis. Nearly three quarters of ALI events were among patients with cancer of the skin and soft tissue (19%), genitourinary (18%), lung (17%), and gastrointestinal (16%) systems. ALI recurrence was similar between the two groups, and major amputation was more likely in patients with a diagnosis of ALI after a cancer diagnosis (7.4% vs 4.6%; P Conclusions The 1-year mortality after the development of ALI in patients with cancer was >50%. For patients presenting with ALI of unclear etiology, the presence of an underlying cancer should be considered.
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Heart Failure Disease Management vs Usual Care in Skilled Nursing Facilities

Abstract Objective Patients discharged from the hospital to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) are not typically part of a heart failure disease management program (HF-DMP). The objective of this study is to determine if an HF-DMP in SNF improves outcomes for patients with HF. Design Cluster-randomized controlled trial. Participants The trial was conducted in 47 SNFs, and 671 patients were enrolled (329 HF-DMP; 342 to usual care). Methods The HF-DMP included documentation of ejection fraction, symptoms, weights, diet, medication optimization, education, and 7-day visit post SNF discharge. The composite outcome was all-cause hospitalization, emergency department visits, or mortality at 60 days. Secondary outcomes included the composite endpoint at 30 days, change in the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire and the Self-care of HF Index at 60 days. Rehospitalization and mortality rates were calculated as an exploratory outcome. Results Mean age of the patients was 79 ± 10 years, 58% were women, and the mean ejection fraction was 51% ± 16%. At 30 and 60 days post SNF admission, the composite endpoint was not significant between DMP (29%) and usual care (32%) at 30 days and 60 days (43% vs 47%, respectively). The Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire significantly improved in the HF-DMP vs usual care for the Physical Limitation (11.3 ± 2.9 vs 20.8 ± 3.6; P = .039) and Social Limitation subscales (6.0 ± 3.1 vs 17.9 ± 3.8; P = .016). Self-care of HF Index was not significant. The total number of events (composite endpoint) totaled 517 (231 in HF-DMP and 286 in usual care). Differences in the 60-day hospitalization rate [mean HF-DMP rate 0.43 (SE 0.03) vs usual care 0.54 (SE 0.05), P = .04] and mortality rate (HF-DMP 5.2% vs usual care 10.8%, P Conclusions and Implications The composite endpoint was high for patients with HF in SNF regardless of group. Rehospitalization and mortality rates were reduced by the HF-DMP. HF-DMPs in SNFs may be beneficial to the outcomes of patients with HF. SNFs should consider structured HF-DMPs for their patients.
Do the Markets Care About the $2.4 Trillion U.S. Deficit?

If the U.S. federal government properly accounted for its explicit and promised liabilities, it would record a national debt of $64 trillion and a national deficit of $2.4 trillion in 2006. Although capital markets seem to care about the officially reported budget deficit  a metric that is backward looking and quite misleading  the markets have done little more than yawn at the federal government's mammoth, and growing, forward-looking budget imbalance. Are investors uninformed? They should remember that the common belief that capital markets cannot fail is precisely the reason why they can.
Obama's Omission: How a Progressive Tax Plan Will Defeat its Purpose

This is a work in progress intended solely for presentation at a scholarly workshop. Do not cite.
Property Taxation in Bogota, Colombia: An Analysis of Poor Revenue Performance

Property taxation is an important local revenue source in many cities of developing countries, but one which suffers frequently from sluggish revenue growth. For the case of Bogota (Colombia) this poor revenue performance is explained by a low rate of growth in the market value of properties. This result follows from a review of the property tax structure, assessment procedures, collection practices, and exemption policies, and from an analysis of property value growth. Some policy recommendations for improved revenue performance are suggested; but since increased reliance on property taxation in Bogota would imply repeated discretionary and highly visible policy actions, the likelihood of an expanding role of property taxation in that city appears slim. While different conclusions might be derived for other cities, the analytical approach chosen for this study may be applied elsewhere.
New 3d graphics rendering engine architecture for direct tessellation of spline surfaces

In current 3D graphics architectures, the bus between the triangle server and the rendering engine GPU is clogged with triangle vertices and their many attributes (normal vectors, colors, texture coordinates). We develop a new 3D graphics architecture using data compression to unclog the bus between the triangle server and the rendering engine. The data compression is achieved by replacing the conventional idea of a GPU that renders triangles with a GPU that tessellates surface patches into triangles.
The Maximum Likelihood Estimator Method of Image Reconstruction: Its Fundamental Characteristics and their Origin

In this paper we review our recent work in characterizing the image reconstruction properties of the MLE algorithm. We have studied its convergence properties and confirmed the onset of image deterioration, which is a function of the number of counts in the source. By modulating the weight given to projection tubes with high numbers of counts with respect to those with low numbers of counts in the reconstruction process, we have confirmed that image deterioration is due to an attempt by the algorithm to match projection data tubes with high numbers of counts too closely to the iterative image projections. We have also developed a stopping rule for the algorithm that tests the hypothesis that a reconstructed image could have given the initial projection data in a manner consistent with the underlying assumption of Poisson distributed variables. The rule has been applied to two mathematically generated phantoms with success and to a third phantom with “exact” (no statistical fluctuations) projection data with results which confirm our understanding of the fundamental process of iterative image reconstruction. We conclude that the behavior of the target functions whose extrema are sought in iterative schemes is more important in the early stages of the reconstruction than in the later stages, when the extrema are being approached but the results are in contradiction with the Poisson nature of the measurement.
Rule Violations in Intercollegiate Athletics: A Qualitative Investigation Utilizing an Organizational Justice Framework

Cheating and rule violations in intercollegiate athletics continue to be relevant issues in many institutions of higher education because they reflect upon the integrity of the institutions in which they are housed, causing concern among many faculty members, administrators, and trustees. Although a great deal of research has documented the numerous rule violations in NCAA intercollegiate athletics, much of it has failed to combine sound theory with practical solutions. The purpose of this study was to examine the possible extensions of the organizational justice framework to the problem of rule violations in intercollegiate athletics. In doing so, the current study examined (a) perceived areas of injustice among coaches at NCAA Division I institutions, (b) avenues by which coaches resolve these injustices, and (c) potential solutions for resolving injustices in an attempt to reduce NCAA violations. Six NCAA Division I basketball coaches from various parts of the country (four from men's teams and two from women's teams) were interviewed using a semi-structured format. Despite the NCAA's efforts to create parity, results showed that coaches perceived several areas of inequities in recruiting, including financial resources and academic standards. The interviewed coaches described several means that are currently used to resolve these inequities and offered recommendations for changes to reduce injustice in the future.
Biclustering: Algorithms and Application in Data Mining

Biclustering (or coclustering) refers to the problem of simultaneously grouping similar objects and similar features at the same time. It is a problem with various applications in a broad range of fields like pattern recognition, text mining, bioinformatics, and financial engineering. Although biclustering has attracted the interest of many researches in the field of computational bioinformatics (because of its usefulness in microarray data analysis), there exist many applications in other fields of science. In this article, we present a description of the biclustering problem, the main algorithmic approaches proposed in the literature and also in some of the most prominent applications with emphasis on data mining. Keywords: biclustering; data mining; microarray; pattern recognition
Toward Nomadological Cyberinfrastructures

This article critically analyzes the cyberinfrastructure and e-science policy discourse in the knowledge society. As a work in critical infrastructure studies, I argue that the tendency of cyberinfrastructure and e-science to reify certain misunderstandings of science and knowledge as social and cultural processes misaligns the policy outputs with the policy practices. From this understanding, I argue that we need to consider the development of a nomadological cyberinfrastructure.
Depth-dependent viscosity and mantle stress amplification: implications for the role of the asthenosphere in maintaining plate tectonics

SUMMARY Boundary layer theory is used to derive scaling relationships for plate stresses in a mantle convection system with a low-viscosity asthenosphere. The theory assumes a plate tectonic like mode of mantle convection withflow driven by an active upper boundary layer. The theory predicts that the confinement of horizontal mantle flow within a low-viscosity, sublithospheric channel can lead to an increase in plate stress compared to the case lacking a channel (even if the absolute viscosity of the sublithosphere mantle does not change between the two cases). Thetheoryfurtherpredictsincreasingshearstresswithdecreasinglow-viscositychannelthickness. If the thickness of tectonic plates is determined dominantly by a dehydrated chemical lithosphere, then the plate normal stress is predicted to also increase with decreasing channel thickness. We use 3-D spherical shell simulations of mantle convection with temperature-, depth- and stress dependent rheology to test scaling trends. The simulations and theoretical scalings demonstrate that a low-viscosity layer (asthenosphere) can amplify convective stresses. If the level of convective stress plays a role in maintaining and/or reactivating plate boundaries, this suggests that a relatively thin low viscosity layer may help to maintain plate tectonics. The numerical simulations support this suggestion as they show that an increase in the thickness of a low viscosity channel can cause the system to transition from an active-lid modeofconvectiontoastagnantlidstate.Collectively,thesimulationsandtheoreticalscalings lead to the conclusion that the role of the asthenosphere in maintaining plate tectonics does not come principally from a basal lubrication effect, associated with a low absolute asthenosphere viscosity, but, instead, from a mantle flow channelization effect, associated with a high viscosity contrast from the asthenosphere to the mantle below.
A unified approach to stability in integrodifferential equations via Liapunov functions

In this paper we investigate the problems of stability, uniform stability, uniform Lipschitz stability, asymptotic stability, and uniform asymptotic stability in three classes of integrodifferential systems. These are linear nonautonomous systems, nonlinear systems, and nonlinearly perturbed nonlinear systems. A simple method for constructing Liapunov functions will be used to unify the treatment of all of the above-mentioned stability notions relative to the various classes of integrodifferential systems. In our investigation of linear systems we benefited from the work in [4-8, 123. For nonlinear systems and their perturbations, we have used some of the results obtained recently in [IS, 101. In particular, we have used an extension of Alekseev’s [l] nonlinear variation of constants formula which was developed in [lo]. The approach we use here was first formulated in [3] and utilized to study uniform Lipschitz stability [2] of nonlinear differential systems. The method has been extended in [12] to cover all other stability notions in nonlinear differential systems. We now give a description of the contents of the paper. Section 1 includes all the basic definitions and preliminaries. In Section 2, we investigate the various stability notions of nonautonomous integrodifferential systems. This extends the work in [6-81, which mainly dealt with autonomous systems. We recall here from [4] that, in linear systems, the notions of uniform stability and uniform Lipschitz stability are equivalent. It was shown in [4], however, that, for nonlinear systems, uniform
Cepstral domain modification of audio signals for data embedding: preliminary results

A method of embedding data in an audio signal using cepstral domain modification is described. Based on successful embedding in the spectral points of perceptually masked regions in each frame of speech, first the technique was extended to embedding in the log spectral domain. This extension resulted at approximately 62 bits /s of embedding with less than 2 percent of bit error rate (BER) for a clean cover speech (from the TIMIT database), and about 2.5 percent for a noisy speech (from an air traffic controller database), when all frames - including silence and transition between voiced and unvoiced segments - were used. Bit error rate increased significantly when the log spectrum in the vicinity of a formant was modified. In the next procedure, embedding by altering the mean cepstral values of two ranges of indices was studied. Tests on both a noisy utterance and a clean utterance indicated barely noticeable perceptual change in speech quality when lower range of cepstral indices - corresponding to vocal tract region - was modified in accordance with data. With an embedding capacity of approximately 62 bits/s - using one bit per each frame regardless of frame energy or type of speech - initial results showed a BER of less than 1.5 percent for a payload capacity of 208 embedded bits using the clean cover speech. BER of less than 1.3 percent resulted for the noisy host with a capacity was 316 bits. When the cepstrum was modified in the region of excitation, BER increased to over 10 percent. With quantization causing no significant problem, the technique warrants further studies with different cepstral ranges and sizes. Pitch-synchronous cepstrum modification, for example, may be more robust to attacks. In addition, cepstrum modification in regions of speech that are perceptually masked - analogous to embedding in frequency masked regions - may yield imperceptible stego audio with low BER.
A new species of Lomatium (Apiaceae) from Utah

A new species ofLomatium belonging to theCynomarathrum group is described and its relationships to other species in the group are indicated.Lomatium junceum appears to be restricted to Emery Co., Utah, on barren clay and shale slopes in the San Rafael Swell and adjacent eastern base of the Wasatch Plateau.
Storymining: eliciting stories and mining their content for cultural levers

This article describes storymining, a process that involves gathering stories and mining their content to ‘bring to the surface’ a deeper understanding of the adaptive and cultural aspects of the system. These aspects, or cultural levers, can then be used to inform action. The article aligns storymining with qualitative research and differentiates it from other storytelling interventions. The article also includes a case study of a storymining experience in a healthcare organization. The author suggests that HRD practitioners can use this approach in a variety of ways, including moving individuals, organizations and/or communities towards action and navigating complexity.
83 ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY ASSESSMENT OF VALVAR AORTIC STENOSIS

Accurate noninvasive evaluation of patients with valvar aortic stenosis (AS) would improve selection for catheterization. 29 children with AS, ages 2 to 16 years, were evaluated by cardiac catheterization and echocardiography. No patient had congestive heart failure or more than trace aortic insufficiency. Left ventricular to aortic pressure difference (LV-Ao) was estimated by: LV-Ao=13×(murmur score)+RV6(mm.)−6×QV6(mm.)−9. Resting LV and Ao pressures were measured and aortic valve area (AVA/m2) was calculated. The systolic left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPW) and internal diameter (LVID) were measured on the echocardiograms without knowledge of catheterization findings. A predicted LV-Ao <30 mmHg, estimated from murmurs and electrocardiogram, would have allowed us to avoid catheterization in only 4 of the 29 patients. Comparison of predicted and measured LV-Ao yielded an r value of 0.58. The LVPW/LVID ratio was compared to LV peak systolic pressure, measured LV-Ao and AVA/m2. Linear regression analysis yielded r values of 0.81, 0.84, and 0.74 respectively. The mean (range) and number of patients for LV-Ao and AVA/m2 at different LVPW/LVID were: The 10 patients with LVPW/LVID ≥0.55 had mild stenosis, not requiring catheterization.
Abrupt climate change: chaos and order at orbital and millennial scales

Abstract Successful prediction of future global climate is critically dependent on understanding its complex history, some of which is displayed in paleoclimate time series extracted from deep-sea sediment and ice cores. These recordings exhibit frequent episodes of abrupt climate change believed to be the result of nonlinear response of the climate system to internal or external forcing, yet, neither the physical mechanisms nor the nature of the nonlinearities involved are well understood. At the orbital (104–105 years) and millennial scales, abrupt climate change appears as sudden, rapid warming events, each followed by periods of slow cooling. The sequence often forms a distinctive saw-tooth shaped time series, epitomized by the deep-sea records of the last million years and the Dansgaard–Oeschger (D/O) oscillations of the last glacial. Here I introduce a simplified mathematical model consisting of a novel arrangement of coupled nonlinear differential equations that appears to capture some important physics of climate change at Milankovitch and millennial scales, closely reproducing the saw-tooth shape of the deep-sea sediment and ice core time series, the relatively abrupt mid-Pleistocene climate switch, and the intriguing D/O oscillations. Named LODE for its use of the logistic-delayed differential equation, the model combines simplicity in the formulation (two equations, small number of adjustable parameters) and sufficient complexity in the dynamics (infinite-dimensional nonlinear delay differential equation) to accurately simulate details of climate change other simplified models cannot. Close agreement with available data suggests that the D/O oscillations are frequency modulated by the third harmonic of the precession forcing, and by the precession itself, but the entrained response is intermittent, mixed with intervals of noise, which corresponds well with the idea that the climate operates at the edge between chaos and order. LODE also predicts a persistent ∼1.5 ky oscillation that results from the frequency modulated regional climate oscillation.
Saccades operate in violation of Hick’s Law

Hick’s law states that response times (RTs) increase in proportion to the logarithm of the number of potential stimulus-response (S-R) alternatives. We hypothesized that time-consuming processes associated with response selection contribute significantly to this effect. We also hypothesized that the latency of saccades might not conform to Hick’s law since visually guided saccades can be automatically selected using topographically organized pathways that convert spatially coded visual activity into spatially coded motor commands. We evaluated these hypotheses by examining three response modalities for their compliance with Hick’s law: saccades directed to a visual target (prosaccades), saccades directed away from the target (antisaccades) and manual responses in which each digit was associated with a specific target location (key-press responses). Both antisaccades and key-press responses conformed to Hick’s law but saccade latencies were completely unaffected by S-R uncertainty. The significance of these findings is considered in terms of the processes of response selection and premotor programming.
Calcium uptake and concentration in bell pepper plants as influenced by nitrogen form and stages of development

Abstract Calcium uptake by bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv. ‘California Wonder') varied by stage of plant development and N form supplied (NO3 ‐NH4 + ratios: 1:0, 3:1, 1:1, 1:3, and 0:1) in a hydroponic study. Uptake of Ca++ was highest at bloom and during fruit expansion, making the fruit development stage the highest demand period. Calcium uptake declined with each increasing increment of NH4 + relative to NO3 ‐ supplied, although fruit yield was not significantly reduced until the ratio of NH4 + to NO3 ‐ exceeded 50%. Tissue Ca++ levels in the blossom‐end of the fruit were reduced whenever NH4 + was included with N supplied. Vegetative yield of plants followed the same trend as that observed for total fruit dry weights. Our results indicate that pepper yields are higher when NO3 ‐ is the predominant form of N. Also, these results strongly suggest that Ca++ fertilizer applications should precede the bloom period and continue during fruit development to ensure adequate Ca++ availability for fruit deve...
Research of Electric Energy-Saving Evaluation Analysis in Colleges and Universities

Colleges and universities as the important structure of social organization, as well as the large energy structure consumption, it is necessary to analyze the energy consumption characteristics and factors, evaluate the energy-saving potential of college, realize the situation of the energy management system, and then, the energy used in college and economic burden can be reduced based on theory of improving energy management by strengthening energy control management. In this paper, the electrical energy potential saving of consumption in college has been analyzed and evaluated based on data envelopment analysis (DEA) model method. The LonWorks in fieldbus is used in technology field. Finally, the management measures and energy saving methods are proposed.
Volume and composition of hand sweat of White and Black men and women in desert walks

Many investigators have sought, but failed to find, ethnic differences in the number and regional distribution of active sweat glands. In this study measurements have been made of sweat secreted on one hand and also on the whole body of Whites and Blacks walking in desert heat. Whites numbered 31 men and 27 women, ages 30 to 88 years; there were 21 Black men and 31 Black women, ages 16 to 61 years. Each walked on three occasions for 1 hour at a rate that required an oxygen consumption of about 40% of aerobic capacity. Ambient temperature ranged from 32 to 44 degrees C in 1979 and 1980; means were 38.4 degrees C in 1979 and 36.7 degrees C in 1980. There was no sweat in the gloves of many Blacks; this was true of only a few Whites. Volume of body sweat increased in both races with rate of walking; volume of hand sweat increased more in Whites than in Blacks. The Mann-Whitney test revealed that volumes of hand sweat were significantly greater for Whites than for Blacks. It was concluded that in desert walks most Whites and few Blacks sweat freely on their hands. In samples of hand sweat, Na+, K+, and Cl- were determined. Concentrations of each ion varied widely in both races, and were unrelated to race. Concentrations of Na+ and Cl- generally are somewhat higher in hand sweat than in body sweat; concentrations of K+ are much higher. It follows that the values for concentration of Na+ and Cl- reported in Table 3 probably are somewhat higher than would have been found in body sweat, and concentrations of K+ are probably much higher.
Intravenous Drug Self-administration in Mice: Practical Considerations

Chronic intravenous drug self-administration in rodents is a useful procedure for predicting the abuse liability of novel drugs in humans, for evaluating candidate treatments for drug abuse and dependence, and for studying the biological basis of addiction. Despite the technical challenge in achieving chronic self-administration behavior in the mouse species, researchers are increasingly using genetically engineered mice to investigate the role of specific genes in abuse-related effects of drugs. This review focuses on recent technical innovations as well as theoretical considerations for comparing intravenous (i.v.) drug self-administration behavior between mouse strains, including mice with targeted mutations. Part I of the present article describes techniques for successfully conducting self-administration studies in mice, including advantages, disadvantages and possible implications of employing various experimental approaches. Part II provides a review of recent data that address how the genetic background on which mutations are expressed may influence results from gene-targeting studies.
The distribution and habitat separation of three corixids (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) in western Colorado

Summary Three species of Corixidae (Hemiptera : Heteroptera) were studied in thirty montane, sub-alpine, and alpine ponds in Western Colorado. Callicorixa audeni Hung, had the widest altitudinal range (2800-3400 m). Cenocorixa bifida Hung, was most common in montane ponds. Arctocorisa lawsoni Hung, was found only above 3100 m. C. audeni was significantly associated with C. bifida and A. lawsoni. Habitat selection was studied in two montane (2900 m) and one alpine (3480 m) pond. C. audeni utilized both mud and emergent sedges as perching and feeding sites, occurring more frequently in the sedges in the montane ponds. C. bifida was confined to the mud. In the alpine pond, A. lawsoni was most abundant on the mud; C. audeni occurred equally on the mud and in the sedges. All three species preferred shallow water (less than 0·5 m). A. lawsoni occupied deeper water more often than C. audeni. In substrate selection experiments C. audeni occupied emergent sedges more than C. bifida, confirming field observations. C. bifida occurred in sedges in the aquaria, but not in the montane ponds, suggesting that an interspecific interaction may be excluding C. bifida from the sedges in nature.
SENSITIVITY AND UNCERTAINTY OF GROUND-WATER DISCHARGE ESTIMATES FOR SEMIARID SHRUBLANDS

: We proposed a step-by-step approach to quantify the sensitivity of ground-water discharge by evapotranspiration (ET) to three categories of independent input variables. To illustrate the approach, we adopt a basic ground-water discharge estimation model, in which the volume of ground water lost to ET was computed as the product of the ground-water discharge rate and the associated area. The ground-water discharge rate was assumed to equal the ET rate minus local precipitation. The objective of this study is to outline a step-by-step procedure to quantify the contributions from individual independent variable uncertainties to the uncertainty of total ground-water discharge estimates; the independent variables include ET rates of individual ET units, areas associated with the ET units, and precipitation in each subbasin. The specific goal is to guide future characterization efforts by better targeting data collection for those variables most responsible for uncertainty in ground-water discharge estimates. The influential independent variables to be included in the sensitivity analysis are first selected based on the physical characteristics and model structure. Both regression coefficients and standardized regression coefficients for the selected independent variables are calculated using the results from sampling-based Monte Carlo simulations. Results illustrate that, while as many as 630 independent variables potentially contribute to the calculation of the total annual ground-water discharge for the case study area, a selection of seven independent variables could be used to develop an accurate regression model, accounting for more than 96% of the total variance in ground-water discharge. Results indicate that the variability of ET rate for moderately dense desert shrubland contributes to about 75% of the variance in the total ground-water discharge estimates. These results point to a need to better quantify ET rates for moderately dense shrubland to reduce overall uncertainty in estimates of ground-water discharge. While the approach proposed here uses a basic ground-water discharge model taken from an earlier study, the procedure of quantifying uncertainty and sensitivity can be generalized to handle other types of environmental models involving large numbers of independent variables.
A systematic review of molecular imaging (PET and SPECT) in autism spectrum disorder: current state and future research opportunities

Non-invasive positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) are techniques used to quantify molecular interactions, biological processes and protein concentration and distribution. In the central nervous system, these molecular imaging techniques can provide critical insights into neurotransmitter receptors and their occupancy by neurotransmitters or drugs. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of studies that have investigated neurotransmitters in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), while earlier studies mostly focused on cerebral blood flow and glucose metabolism. The underlying and contributing mechanisms of ASD are largely undetermined and ASD diagnosis relies on the behavioral phenotype. Discovery of biochemical endophenotypes would represent a milestone in autism research that could potentially lead to ASD subtype stratification and the development of novel therapeutic drugs. This review characterizes the prior use of molecular imaging by PET and SPECT in ASD, addresses methodological challenges and highlights areas of future opportunity for contributions from molecular imaging to understand ASD pathophysiology.
Dynamic formulation for geometrically-exact sandwich shells

Abstract Extending our recent works on geometrically-exact sandwich beams and one-dimensional plates [see e.g. Vu-Quoc and Ebcioǧlu (1995); Vu-Quoc and Deng (1995c); Vu-Quoc and Deng (1995a)], we present here a geometrically-exact sandwich shell theory, entirely in terms of stress resultants which accommodates finite deformations in membrane, bending, and transverse shear. The motion of the shell are referred directly to the inertial frame; the transverse fiber of the sandwich shell has a motion identical to that of a chain of three rigid links connected by revolute joints. An important approximated theory is developed from the general nonlinear equations, the classical linear theory is recovered by the consistent linearization.