cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A multi-year study of tillage and amendment effects on compacted soils.

Abstract Constructing roads and buildings often involves removal of topsoil, grading, and traffic from heavy machinery. The result is exposed, compacted subsoil with low infiltration rate (IR), which hinders post-construction vegetation establishment and generates significant runoff, similar to impervious surfaces. Our goal was to assess tillage and adding amendments for improving density and maintaining perviousness of subsoils compacted during construction. The effects of tillage with and without amendments on (1) soil compaction, (2) IR, and (3) vegetative growth at five sites in North Carolina, USA were evaluated over a period of up to 32 months. The sites, representing a range of soil conditions, were located at three geographic regions; one in the Sandhills (located in Coastal Plain), one in the mountains, and three in the Piedmont. Amendments varied by site and included: (1) compost, (2) cross-linked polyacrylamide (xPAM), and (3) gypsum. Bulk density (BD) and soil penetration resistance (PR) tests were used to characterize soil physical condition. The IR was measured using a Cornell Sprinkle Infiltrometer. Vegetative growth was evaluated by measuring shoot mass and vegetative cover at all sites and root density at the Piedmont sites. Tillage decreased BD and PR compared to the compacted soil at four out of five sites for observations ranging from 24 to 32 months. Compost was applied to four sites prior to tillage and reduced BD in two of them compared to tillage alone. The IR in the tilled plots was maintained at about 3–10 times that of the compacted soil among the five sites over the monitoring periods. Adding amendments did not increase IR relative to tillage alone except at one Piedmont site, where compost and xPAM increased IR at 12 months and compost at 24 months after site establishment. Vegetative responses to tillage and amendments were inconsistent across sites. Results suggest that tillage is a viable option to reduce bulk density and increase infiltration for areas with compacted soils where vegetation is to be established, and that the effect is maintained for at least several years.
Phytase in starter and grower diets of White Pekin ducks.

Abstract The growth performance and phosphorus utilization responses of ducks to phytase were investigated during the starter and grower phases. Five-hundred-seventy-six one-day-old drakes with an average initial BW of 55 g were grouped by BW into 8 blocks of 6 pens and assigned to 48 pens with 12 ducks per pen. The 6 dietary treatments consisted of: 1) positive control (PC), adequate in all nutrients with 4.5 g non-phytate phosphorus (nPP)/kg starter diet or 3.5 g nPP/kg grower diet; 2) negative control (NC), adequate in all other nutrients except phosphorus with 3.0 g nPP/kg starter diet or 2.0 g nPP/kg grower diet; 3) the NC plus phytase at 500 units/kg diet; 4) the NC plus phytase at 1,000 units/kg diet; 5) the NC plus phytase at 1,500 units/kg diet; and 6) the NC plus phytase at 15,000 units/kg diet. Starter and grower diets were fed from d 1 to 15 and d 15 to 43 post hatching, respectively. Ducks had free access to diets and water during the 42-day study. Feeding the low-P NC diet to ducks reduced (P
Behind the Wireless: A History of Early Women at the BBC: By Kate Murphy New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2016, 295 pp

Kate Murphy, historian and senior lecturer at Bournemouth University in the United Kingdom, expertly weaves together information garnered through BBC archival documents and secondary sources, as we...
Muriel Rukeyser’s experimental feminine poetics of war*

This essay puts forward Muriel Rukeyser’s Life of Poetry as the site of articulation of a radical and still urgently relevant experimental feminine poetics of war. The power of this poetics is root...
UV Radiation as Related to the Greenhouse Effect

The Greenhouse Effect is the term applied to the warming of the earth’s surface that results from the fact that atmospheric gases have a greater transparency for incoming solar radiation than for outgoing longwave thermal radiation emitted by the earth’s surface. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation contributes little directly to this whole global radiation balance. First, UV radiation is a small fraction of extraterrestrial solar radiation, and second, much of it is absorbed in the stratosphere in comparison with other radiation components. However, ozone (O3) and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are greenhouse effect gases. Ozone is important because it absorbs radiation in the middle of the “atmospheric window,” within the 8 to 12 micrometer wavelength bandwidth where many of the other standard greenhouse-effect gases (water vapor, CO2, CH4, N2O) have little effect. Tropospheric and stratospheric ozone play a role in the greenhouse effect. CFCs are important because 1) they have been recently introduced into the earth’s atmosphere, 2) they have a strong warming potential for each increment added to the atmosphere, 3) they will continue to be released to the atmosphere from emissions from closed cell foams and fugitive refrigerant gases. CFC substitutes may have their own greenhouse effect impacts.
Random Toeplitz and Hankel Operators

An analogue of Hartman’s theorem on completely continuous Hankel operators is proved for Hankel operators with random symbols.
Neurotransmitters and Peptides in the Pineal Gland

Abstract While norepinephrine is regarded as the primary regulator of melatonin biosynthesis, an increasing number of “classical” transmitters and neuropeptides have been implicated as modulating pineal function. The anatomical and functional bases for these suggestions is briefly reviewed. In addition, some of the similarities and differences between the effects of β-adrenergic and VIP stimulation on induction of N-acetyltransferase activity are discussed.
FOXD1-dependent MICU1 expression regulates mitochondrial activity and cell differentiation

Although many factors contribute to cellular differentiation, the role of mitochondria Ca2+ dynamics during development remains unexplored. Because mammalian embryonic epiblasts reside in a hypoxic environment, we intended to understand whether mCa2+ and its transport machineries are regulated during hypoxia. Tissues from multiple organs of developing mouse embryo evidenced a suppression of MICU1 expression with nominal changes on other MCU complex components. As surrogate models, we here utilized human embryonic stem cells (hESCs)/induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and primary neonatal myocytes to delineate the mechanisms that control mCa2+ and bioenergetics during development. Analysis of MICU1 expression in hESCs/hiPSCs showed low abundance of MICU1 due to its direct repression by Foxd1. Experimentally, restoration of MICU1 established the periodic cCa2+ oscillations and promoted cellular differentiation and maturation. These findings establish a role of mCa2+ dynamics in regulation of cellular differentiation and reveal a molecular mechanism underlying this contribution through differential regulation of MICU1.
RF Watt-Level Low-Insertion-Loss High-Bandwidth SOI CMOS Switches

CMOS RF switches support watt-level RF output power while enabling signal processing with high speed. Typically, RF FET switches offer a tradeoff between a power handling and modulation bandwidth. This paper investigates the cause of compression in a FET switch, and the analysis suggests the optimization of the gate driving impedance for a stacked-FET switch. A design methodology is presented to realize watt-level power handling with high fractional bandwidth (FBW). The measurements demonstrate a BPSK modulator that can handle up to 10 W with wide FBW. The high-power, low-insertion loss, and high-modulation bandwidth demonstrate record performance.
Summary of Working Group 8: Advanced Laser and Beam Technology and Facilities

This paper summarizes the trends in laser technology and facilities for advanced accelerator research as presented at the Advanced Accelerator Concepts Workshop held in Breckenridge, CO between August 12 and August 17, 2018. A synopsis of how contributions presented at the conference fit within these trends is provided. Readers may then refer to the full references for additional detail.
In-plane near-field optical barrier on a chip

Nanoparticles trapped on resonant near-field structures engraved on a metallic substrate experience forces due to the engravings, as well as the image-like interaction with the substrate. In the case of normally incident optical excitation, the force due to the substrate is solely perpendicular to its surface. Numerical simulations are presented to demonstrate that under the combined influence of the aforementioned forces, a plasmonic nanoparticle can be repelled from the engraving along the substrate, while attracting it towards the substrate along its normal. This behavior can be achieved over a range of excitation wavelengths of the short wavelength mode of the coupled particle-substrate-trap system. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first illustration of an in-plane near-field optical barrier on a chip. The barrier is stable against resistive heating of the nanoparticle, as well as the induced non-isothermal flow. The wavelength-dependent switch between the proposed in-plane potential barrier and the stable potential well can pave the way for the gated transport of single nanoparticles, while holding them bound to the chip.
Influence of North Atlantic climate variability on glacier mass balance in Norway, Sweden and Svalbard

Climate variability can complicate efforts to interpret any long-term glacier mass-balance trends due to anthropogenic warming. Here we examine the impact of climate variability on the seasonal mass-balance records of 14 glaciers throughout Norway, Sweden and Svalbard using dynamical adjustment, a statistical method that removes orthogonal patterns of variability shared between each mass-balance record and sea-level pressure or sea-surface temperature predictor fields. For each glacier, the two leading predictor patterns explain 27–81% of the winter mass-balance variability and 24–69% of the summer mass-balance variability. The spatial and temporal structure of these patterns indicates that accumulation variability for all of the glaciers is strongly related to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), with the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) also modulating accumulation variability for the northernmost glaciers. Given this result, predicting glacier change in the region may depend on NAO and AMO predictability. In the raw mass-balance records, the glaciers throughout southern Norway have significantly negative summer trends, whereas the glaciers located closer to the Arctic have negative winter trends. Removing the effects of climate variability suggests it can bias trends in mass-balance records that span a few decades, but its effects on most of the longer-term mass-balance trends are minimal.
Husbands’ migration: increased burden on or more autonomy for wives left behind?

Migration of men has important influences on reshaping family and gender roles in left-behind wives. However, it is unclear whether husbands’ out-migration increases the burden on or creates autono...
Dynamics of long-lasting relativistic winds in Gamma Ray Bursters

We perform numerical simulations of the dynamics of magnetized and highly relativistic pulsar-like winds produced by long-lasting central engines in Gamma Ray Bursters (GRB). The very fast wind interacts with the initial relativistically expanding GRB outflow, creating a multiple-shock structure. Depending on the parameters of the model (the energy of the initial explosion, the outside density, the wind power, the delay time for the switch-on of the wind, and the magnetization of the wind) a variety of temporal behaviors can be produced. In certain regimes the dynamics of such secondary engine-driven shocks is self-similar.
Multidimensional Pain Assessment Tools for Ambulatory and Inpatient Nursing Practice.

Abstract Background One of the critical components in pain management is the assessment of pain. Multidimensional measurement tools capture multiple aspects of a patient's pain experience but can be cumbersome to administer in busy clinical settings. Aim We conducted a systematic review to identify brief multidimensional pain assessment tools that nurses can use in both ambulatory and acute care settings. Methods We searched PUBMED/MEDLINE, PsychInfo, and CINAHL databases from January 1977 through December 2019. Eligible English-language articles were systematically screened and data were extracted independently by two raters. Main outcomes included the number and types of domains captured by each instrument (e.g., sensory, impact on function, temporal components) and tool characteristics (e.g., administration time, validity) that may affect instrument uptake in practice. Results Our search identified eight multidimensional assessment tools, all of which measured sensory or affective qualities of pain and its impact on functioning. Most tools measured impact of pain on affective functioning, mood, or enjoyment of life. One tool used ecological momentary assessment via a web-based app to assess pain symptoms. Time to administer the varying tools ranged from less than 2 minutes to 10 minutes, and evidence of validity was reported for seven of the eight tools. Conclusions Our review identified eight multidimensional pain measurement tools that nurses can use in ambulatory or acute care settings to capture patients’ experience of pain. The most important element in selecting a multidimensional pain measure, though, is that one tool is selected that best fits the practice and is used consistently over time.
Access and Continuity: A Multidisciplinary Education Workshop to Teach Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Principles

Introduction As more practices move to patient-centered medical home (PCMH) models, future health care professionals must train to work in collaborative settings. We implemented a 3-hour workshop f...
Outcomes of Premature Ventricular Contraction-Cardiomyopathy in the Veteran Population: A Secondary Analysis of the CHF-STAT Study.

Abstract Objectives This study sought to assess the rate and outcomes of premature ventricular contractions (PVC)–cardiomyopathy from the CHF-STAT (Survival Trial of Antiarrhythmic Therapy in Congestive Heart Failure) trial, a population with cardiomyopathy (left ventricular [LV] ejection fraction of 10 PVCs per hour). Background PVCs are associated with heart failure and PVC-cardiomyopathy. The prevalence of PVC-cardiomyopathy and outcome benefits of PVC suppression are not clear. Methods A secondary analysis of the CHF-STAT study was performed to compare the rate of successful PVC suppression (≥80% PVC reduction), LV recovery (defined as improvement in LV ejection fraction of ≥10% points), and PVC-cardiomyopathy between amiodarone and placebo groups at 6 months. PVC-cardiomyopathy was defined if both PVC reduction of ≥80% and LV ejection fraction improvement of ≥10% were present at 6 months. Cardiac events (death or resuscitated cardiac arrest) were compared between PVC-cardiomyopathy versus non–PVC-cardiomyopathy during a 5-year follow-up. Results The rates of successful PVC suppression and LV recovery were significantly higher in the amiodarone (72% and 39%, respectively) when compared to the placebo group (12% and 16%, respectively; p Conclusions The overall prevalence of PVC-cardiomyopathy in the CHF-STAT study was significant regardless of ischemic substrate (29%, overall population; 41%, nonischemic cardiomyopathy). Treatment of PVC-cardiomyopathy with amiodarone is likely to improve survival in this high-risk population.
Effect of Early Post-Operative Intravenous Iron Replacement in Patients with HeartMate III

Purpose Iron deficiency is a common contributor to morbidity and mortality in patients with heart failure (HF). While guidelines suggest intravenous (IV) iron to improve functional status and quality of life (QoL) in patients with NYHA class II-III HF, left ventricular assist device (LVAD) recipients were not included in early IV iron studies. Small, recent studies show benefit of IV iron after LVAD, but iron replacement occurred months after device placement. Our study compares outcomes between patients who did and did not receive IV iron during the index admission following Thoratec HeartMate III® (HM 3) LVAD placement Methods Sixty-six adult patients with a HM 3 placed at our institution who received early post-op IV ferric gluconate (n=20) or no IV iron replacement (n=46) were compared. Patients who received other IV iron replacement within 90 days before or after LVAD placement were excluded. The co-primary outcomes were mean change in health-related quality of life (by the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire [MLHFQ]) and 6 minute walk distance (6MWD) from baseline to first ≥ 90 day clinic follow-up. Resolution of iron deficiency and hemoglobin levels were also assessed in the IV iron group. Results Baseline characteristics were similar between groups (Table 1). The median baseline MLHFQ was 80 and 62 and 6MWD was 500 and 218 feet in the IV iron group and no IV iron groups, respectively. There was no significant difference between the IV iron and no-IV iron groups in MLHFQ (-27 ± 38 vs -29 ± 43, p = 0.262) or 6MWD (360 ± 740 vs. 607 ± 923, p = 0.118). Patients’ 6MWD increased on average by 360 ± 740 feet in the IV iron group compared to 606.5 ± 923 feet in those not receiving iron. Iron deficiency resolved in 17 (85%) patients who received IV iron. Conclusion Despite a high rate of resolution of IV iron deficiency, patients receiving IV iron during index admission following HM 3 implantation did not experience an improvement in quality of life or functional capacity when compared to those who did not receive IV iron.
Identity-based encryption secure against selective opening attack

We present the first IBE schemes that are proven secure against selective opening attack (SOA). This means that if an adversary, given a vector of ciphertexts, adaptively corrupts some fraction of the senders, exposing not only their messages but also their coins, the privacy of the unopened messages is guaranteed. Achieving security against such attacks is well-known to be challenging and was only recently done in the PKE case. We show that IBE schemes having a property we call 1-sided public openability (1SPO) yield SOA secure IBE schemes and then provide two 1SPO IBE schemes, the first based on the Boyen-Waters anonymous IBE and the second on Waters' dual-system approach.
A research note on representing part: whole relations in conceptual modeling

Empirical research is an important methodology for the study of conceptual modeling practices. The recently published article "Representing Part-Whole Relations in Conceptual Modeling: An Empirical Evaluation" (Shanks et al. 2008) uses the lens of ontology to study a relatively sophisticated aspect of conceptual modeling practice, the representation of aggregation and composition. It contends that some analysts argue that a composite should be represented as a relationship while others argue that a composite should be represented as an entity. We find no evidence of such a dispute in the data modeling literature. We observe that composites are objects. By definition, all object-types should be represented as entities. Therefore, using the relationship construct to represent composites should not be seen as a viable alternative. Additionally, we found significant conceptual and methodological issues within the study that call its conclusions into question. As a way to offer insight into the requisite methodological procedures for research in this area, we conducted two experiments that both explicate and address the issues raised. Our results call into question the utility of using ontology as a foundation for conceptual modeling practice. Furthermore, they suggest a contrary but at least equally plausible explanation for the results reported by Shanks et al. In conducting this work we hope to encourage dialogue that will be beneficial for future endeavors aimed at identifying, developing, and evaluating appropriate foundations for the discipline of conceptual modeling.
Tourette syndrome: recent advances.

Tourette syndrome is now considered the most severe form in a spectrum of chronic tic disorders. There is a genetic basis in the majority of cases and a close relationship to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Treatment of the tics still relies heavily on dopamine antagonists, although many patients develop significant side effects. Improved treatment modalities depend on a more sophisticated knowledge of the pathophysiology of the disorder.
The Statistical Implications of Common Identifying Restrictions for DSGE Models

I reveal identification failures in a well-known dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model, and study the statistical implications of common identifying restrictions. First, I provide a fully analytical methodology for determining all observationally equivalent values of the structural parameters in any parameter space. I show that either parameter admissibility or sign restrictions may yield global identification for some parameter realizations, but not for others. Second, I derive a "plug-in" maximum likelihood estimator, which requires no numerical search. I use this tool to demonstrate that the idiosyncratic identifying restriction directly impinges on both the location and distribution of the small-sample MLE, and compute correctly sized confidence intervals.
From Population Lending to HNP Results : The Evolution of the World Bank's Strategies in Health, Nutrition and Population

This paper reviews the evolution of the World Bank's strategies in the health, nutrition, and population (HNP) sector in relation to both internal and global events, as background for the forthcoming evaluation by the Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) of the Bank's support for HNP. It summarizes the objectives, priorities, and strategies in HNP as expressed in official documents and revealed implicitly by its lending and non-lending activities. Special emphasis is placed on analysis of the period since the release of the 1997 HNP Strategy, which has guided the sector over the last decade. However, the report also reviews the Bank's earlier experiences in HNP, so as to provide a context for understanding the World Bank's current strategies. Detailed timelines annexed to the paper help to put the Bank's strategies and actions in the context of the evolution of global HNP themes. It aimed to help client countries: (i) improve the HNP outcomes of the poor and protect the population from the impoverishing effects of illness, malnutrition, and high fertility; (ii) enhance the performance of health systems; and (iii) secure sustainable health financing. The sector sought to achieve greater impact through emphasizing strategic policy directions in country assistance strategies, underpinning lending with analysis and research, increasing selectivity, improving client services, and stronger monitoring and evaluation. Throughout the recent phases, the World Bank's objectives remained largely consistent: improving health outcomes, especially among the poor; strengthening health systems; and securing sustainable financing. This review of the Bank's objectives and strategies, particularly over the past decade, suggests four priority areas of investigation for an evaluation of the Bank's HNP support.
Cosmetic surgery in L-spaces and nugatory crossings

The cosmetic crossing conjecture (also known as the “nugatory crossing conjecture”) asserts that the only crossing changes that preserve the oriented isotopy class of a knot in the 3-sphere are nugatory. We use the Dehn surgery characterization of the unknot to prove this conjecture for knots in integer homology spheres whose branched double covers are L-spaces satisfying a homological condition. This includes as a special case all alternating and quasi-alternating knots with square-free determinant. As an application, we prove the cosmetic crossing conjecture holds for all knots with at most nine crossings and provide new examples of knots, including pretzel knots, non-arborescent knots and symmetric unions for which the conjecture holds.
Do Edgeworth price cycles lead to higher or lower prices

Abstract A recent literature seeks to understand the causes of the high-frequency, asymmetric retail price cycles observed in many retail gasoline markets. However, much less attention has been given to the effects of the cycles, in particular, whether the cycles lead to higher or lower prices and margins. The leading theory for the underlying cause of the price cycles, Edgeworth price cycles, is silent on the issue. The challenge in addressing this most important question has been the difficulty in isolating cycle effects from other confounding factors, especially market structure. In this article, I exploit a unique natural experiment to isolate the effect of cycles — a refinery fire that, in a matter of days, halted cycles that had previously persisted for decades. I find that Edgeworth price cycles lead to lower prices and lower margins. I conclude with implications for competition policy.
STUDIES IN PYRIMIDINE METABOLISM

By partial hydrolysis of yeast nucleic acid, preparations containing pyrimidines as the only nitrogenous constituents were prepared and administered to rabbits. Uracil nucleoside when administered per os, subcutaneously or intraperitoneally caused an increased excretion of urea often much more than enough to account for the nitrogen administered. The undetermined nitrogen (the difference between the total nitrogen and the urea nitrogen) was always increased. A part of the increase in the undetermined nitrogen was due to the excretion of free uracil which was isolated in pure crystalline form. As much as 20 per cent. of the uracil fed as the nucleoside was recovered free in the urine.When a mixture of cytosine and uracil nucleosides was administered to rabbits, there was an increased excretion of urea and usually no increase in the undetermined nitrogen. Uracil was isolated from the urine of one animal and was barely detected by a color reaction in another. No increase of creatine, creatinine, or purines w...
Revisiting Carbon‐detected NMR Experiments in Light of Technological Advances in Modern Instrumentation

While two-dimensional, carbon-detected, NMR experiments have been largely supplanted by their proton-detected counterparts, there are still certain situations in which carbon-detected experiments can furnish information that cannot be readily obtained from the proton-detected analogs. Keywords: heteronuclear-correlated NMR experiments; HETCOR; long-range HETCOR; FLOCK; HSQC; HMBC; fatty acid esters; stearic acid; oleic acid; α-cryptoxanthin
Rich and powerful? : Subjective power and welfare in Russia

Abstract Does “empowerment” come hand-in-hand with higher economic welfare? In theory, higher income is likely to raise both power and welfare, but heterogeneity in other characteristics can either strengthen or weaken the relationship. Survey data on Russian adults indicate that higher individual and household incomes raise both self-rated power and economic welfare. The individual income effect is primarily direct, rather than through higher household income. There are diminishing returns to income, though income inequality emerges as only a minor factor reducing either aggregate power or welfare. At given income, the identified covariates have strikingly similar effects on power and economic welfare.
Consistent quantum measurements

Abstract In response to recent criticisms by Okon and Sudarsky, various aspects of the consistent histories (CH) resolution of the quantum measurement problem(s) are discussed using a simple Stern‐Gerlach device, and compared with the alternative approaches to the measurement problem provided by spontaneous localization (GRW), Bohmian mechanics, many worlds, and standard (textbook) quantum mechanics. Among these CH is unique in solving the second measurement problem: inferring from the measurement outcome a property of the measured system at a time before the measurement took place, as is done routinely by experimental physicists. The main respect in which CH differs from other quantum interpretations is in allowing multiple stochastic descriptions of a given measurement situation, from which one (or more) can be selected on the basis of its utility. This requires abandoning a principle (termed unicity), central to classical physics, that at any instant of time there is only a single correct description of the world.
Improved algorithm for degree bounded survivable network design problem

We consider the Degree-Bounded Survivable Network Design Problem: the objective is to find a minimum cost subgraph satisfying the given connectivity requirements as well as the degree bounds on the vertices. If we denote the upper bound on the degree of a vertex v by b(v), then we present an algorithm that finds a solution whose cost is at most twice the cost of the optimal solution while the degree of a degree constrained vertex v is at most 2 b(v)+2. This improves upon the results of Lau and Singh [13] and Lau, Naor, Salavatipour and Singh [12].
Design and Performance of Policy Instruments to Promote the Development of Renewable Energy: Emerging Experience in Selected Developing Countries

This report summarizes the results of a recent review of the emerging experience with the design and implementation of policy instruments to promote the development of renewable energy (RE) in a sample of six representative developing countries and transition economies ('developing countries') (World Bank 2010). The review focused mainly on price- and quantity-setting policies, but it also covered fiscal and financial incentives, as well as relevant market facilitation measures. The lessons learned were taken from the rapidly growing literature and reports that analyze and discuss RE policy instruments in the context of different types of power market structures. The analysis considered all types of grid-connected RE options except large hydropower: wind (on-shore and off-shore), solar (photovoltaic and concentrated solar power), small hydropower (SHP) (with capacities below 30 megawatts), biomass, bioelectricity (cogeneration), landfill gas, and geothermal. The six countries selected for the review included Brazil, India, Indonesia, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, and Turkey.
A theory of goal-oriented MDPs with dead ends

Stochastic Shortest Path (SSP) MDPs is a problem class widely studied in AI, especially in probabilistic planning. They describe a wide range of scenarios but make the restrictive assumption that the goal is reachable from any state, i.e., that dead-end states do not exist. Because of this, SSPs are unable to model various scenarios that may have catastrophic events (e.g., an airplane possibly crashing if it flies into a storm). Even though MDP algorithms have been used for solving problems with dead ends, a principled theory of SSP extensions that would allow dead ends, including theoretically sound algorithms for solving such MDPs, has been lacking. In this paper, we propose three new MDP classes that admit dead ends under increasingly weaker assumptions. We present Value Iteration-based as well as the more efficient heuristic search algorithms for optimally solving each class, and explore theoretical relationships between these classes. We also conduct a preliminary empirical study comparing the performance of our algorithms on different MDP classes, especially on scenarios with unavoidable dead ends.
Sorting by merging or merging by sorting

In the comparison model the only operations allowed on input elements are comparisons and moves to empty cells of memory. We prove the existence of an algorithm that, for any set of s ≤n sorted sequences containing a total of n elements, computes the whole sorted sequence using O(nlogs) comparisons, O(n) data moves and O(1) auxiliary cells of memory besides the ones necessary for the n input elements. The best known algorithms with these same bounds are limited to the particular case s= O(1). From a more intuitive point of view, our result shows that it is possible to pass from merging to sorting in a seamless fashion, without losing the optimality with respect to any of the three main complexity measures of the comparison model. Our main statement has an implication in the field of adaptive sorting algorithms and improves [Franceschini and Geffert, Journal of the ACM, 52], showing that it is possible to exploit some form of pre-sortedness to lower the number of comparisons while still maintaining the optimality for space and data moves. More precisely, let us denote with OptM(X) the cost for sorting a sequence X with an algorithm that is optimal with respect to a pre-sortedness measure M. To the best of our knowledge, so far, for any pre-sortedness measure M, no full-optimal adaptive sorting algorithms were known (see [Estivill-Castro and Wood, ACM Comp. Surveys, 24], page 472). The best that could be obtained were algorithms sorting a sequence X using O(1) space, O(OptM(X)) comparisons and O(OptM(X)) moves. Hence, the move complexity seemed bound to be a function of M(X) (as for the comparison complexity). We prove that there exists a pre-sortedness measure for which that is false: the pre-sortedness measure Runs, defined as the number of ascending contiguous subsequences in a sequence. That follows directly from our main statement, since ${Opt}_{M}(X)=O(\left\vert{X}\right\vert \log Runs(X))$
Direct nm-scale spatial mapping of traps in CIGS

Using newly developed nanometer-scale deep level transient (nano-DLTS) spectroscopy, the spatial distribution of the EV+0.47 eV trap in p-type Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) is mapped simultaneously with topography to correlate the electrical traps with physical structure. It is demonstrated that the EV+0.47 eV trap properties using nano-DLTS match the observed macroscopic properties. Additionally, the EV+0.47 eV map reveals that this trap is not uniformly distributed, is likely correlated with specific grain boundaries, and not related to all grain boundaries. The combined multi-scale approach reveals overall trap impact as well as correlation with physical structures on the nm-scale that can be broadly applied to any semiconductor material.
Destruction of Iron-Complexed Cyanide by Alkaline Hydrolysis

Iron-complexed cyanide compounds are found in various industrial wastes, and are resistant to destruction by conventional technologies used to treat cyanide-bearing wastes. This study evaluated hydrolytic destruction of iron-complexed cyanide in leachates from land disposal of spent carbonanceous material used to line aluminum reduction cells. The investigation showed that iron-cyanide complexes may be hydrolyzed under alkaline conditions at elevated temperatures and pressures, e.g. in the range of 165-180 °C and 100-150 psig. The hydrolysis reaction is apparently first-order with respect to total cyanide. The reaction yields stoichiometric amounts of ammonia and formate, and Fe3O4(s). The rate of the reaction is especially temperature dependent, and for the case of spent potlining leachate, the hydrolysis rate may be estimated by an Arrhenius kinetic expression for hydrolysis of simple cyanide. The rate of the hydrolysis reaction for iron-complexed cyanide is compared to that for other metal-cyanide complexes. It is shown that waste composition may affect the hydrolysis rate, and that the instability of certain metal-cyanide complexes with respect to alkaline chlorination does not correlate with instability with respect to alkaline hydrolysis. Alkaline hydrolysis is an appropriate technology for destruction of iron- and other metal-cyanide compounds in wastes at high concentrations.
History of Path Analysis

Sewell Wright was a geneticist who originated the method of path analysis for studying causal hypotheses with correlations and partical correlations and who struggled to get it accepted in a climate of British and logical expiricism that was hostile to the concept of causality. The method subsequently developed into the modern method of structural equation modeling. Keywords: path analysis (history); structural equation modeling (history); Sewell Wright; Karl Joreskog; causality
Theory and practice of inference in regression discontinuity: a fixed-bandwidth asymptotics approach

In regression discontinuity design (RD), researchers use bandwidths around the discontinuity. For a given bandwidth, one can estimate asymptotic variance based on the assumption that the bandwidth shrinks to zero as sample size increases (the traditional approach) or, alternatively, that the bandwidth is fixed. The main theoretical results for RD rely on the former, while most applications in the literature treat the estimates as parametric. This paper develops the "fixed-bandwidth" alternative asymptotic theory for local polynomial estimators, bridging the gap between theorists and practitioners and shedding light on implicit assumptions on both approaches. The fixed-bandwidth approach provides alternative formulas, i.e. alternative approximations, for the bias and variance of RD estimators. Simulations indicate that fixed-bandwidth approximations are usually better than traditional approximations, and improvements are nontrivial when there is heteroskedasticity. When there is no heteroskedasticity, both approximations are shown to be equivalent under some additional mild conditions. Feasible estimators of fixed-bandwidth standard errors are easy to implement and improve coverage of confidence intervals compared to the traditional approach, especially in the presence of heteroskedasticity. Fixed-bandwidth approximations are akin to treating RD estimators as locally parametric, providing theoretical justification for the common empirical practice of using heteroskedasticity-robust standard errors in RD settings.
Intent Determination and Spoken Utterance Classification

Spoken language understanding (SLU) is an emerging field in between speech and language processing, investigating human/ machine and human/ human communication by leveraging technologies from signal processing, pattern recognition, machine learning and artificial intelligence. SLU systems are designed to extract the meaning from speech utterances and its applications are vast, from voice search in mobile devices to meeting summarization, attracting interest from both commercial and academic sectors. Both human/machine and human/human communications can benefit from the application of SLU, using differing tasks and approaches to better understand and utilize such communications. This book covers the state-of-the-art approaches for the most popular SLU tasks with chapters written by well-known researchers in the respective fields. Key features include: Presents a fully integrated view of the two distinct disciplines of speech processing and language processing for SLU tasks. Defines what is possible today for SLU as an enabling technology for enterprise (e.g., customer care centers or company meetings), and consumer (e.g., entertainment, mobile, car, robot, or smart environments) applications and outlines the key research areas. Provides a unique source of distilled information on methods for computer modeling of semantic information in human/machine and human/human conversations. This book can be successfully used for graduate courses in electronics engineering, computer science or computational linguistics. Moreover, technologists interested in processing spoken communications will find it a useful source of collated information of the topic drawn from the two distinct disciplines of speech processing and language processing under the new area of SLU.
Voiced/Unvoiced Decision for Speech Signals Based on Zero-Crossing Rate and Energy

In speech analysis, the voiced-unvoiced decision is usually performed in extracting the information from the speech signals. In this paper, two methods are performed to separate the voiced and unvoiced parts of the speech signals. These are zero crossing rate (ZCR) and energy. In here, we evaluated the results by dividing the speech sample into some segments and used the zero crossing rate and energy calculations to separate the voiced and unvoiced parts of speech. The results suggest that zero crossing rates are low for voiced part and high for unvoiced part where as the energy is high for voiced part and low for unvoiced part. Therefore, these methods are proved effective in separation of voiced and unvoiced speech.
An expert system for selecting solution methods for solving nonlinear programming problems

Abstract This paper presents an expert system for selecting solution methods for solving nonlinear programming problems. No general method exists for solving nonlinear programming problems in the same manner as the Simplex algorithm solves linear programming problems. Hence to some extent nonlinear programming even today exists as an experimental field of research. It has advanced to this date through the proposal and programming of particular algorithms, examinations of the results of the implementation of the algorithms to problems of interest, and the construction of better algorithms based on the experience gained. Computational experiences of many numerical methods such as direct search methods, method of multipliers, and linear approximation methods have been widely reported in literature int he past two decades. However, there is no unified approach to solve a genral NLP problem. A small scale expert system has been developed using the Texas Instruments Personal Consultant Plus (PCPLUS) software to provide an organised approach for solving NLP problems. A knowledge base has been constructed to represent the past computational experiences of different solution methods on different classes of NLP problems. The system can be effectively used in conjunction with OPTLIB (1), which is a optimization program library for solving NLP problems. The purpose of the system is to guide inexperienced engineers to choose a proper NLP solution method and to serve as teaching aid. In selecting the methods more stress has been laid on the sure-footedness of the method, than on computational time and storage space requirement to make it more reliable for users. This paper presents the knowledge organisation, rules and the testing results.
Precisiated natural language - toward a radical enlargement of the role of natural languages in information processing, decision and control

It is a deep-seated tradition in science to view the use of natural languages in scientific theories as a manifestation of mathematical immaturity. The rationale for this tradition is that natural languages are lacking in precision. In a related way, the restricted expressive power of predicate-logic-based languages rules out the possibility of defining many basic concepts such as causality, resemblance, smoothness and relevance in realistic terms. In this instance, as in many others, the price of precision is over-idealization and lack of robustness. In a significant departure from existing methods, in the approach which is described in this talk the high expressive power of natural languages is harnessed by constructing what is called a precisiated natural language (PNL). In essence, PNL is a subset of a natural language (NL): a subset which is equipped with constraint-centered semantics (CSNL) and is translatable into what is called the Generalized Constraint Language (GCL).
Errors In Retinal Thickness Measurements Obtained By Optical Coherence Tomography

Objective To report the frequency and severity of optical coherence tomography (OCT) retinal thickness measurement errors and to describe parameters that predict these errors. Design Observational case series. Participants Two hundred consecutive patients undergoing OCT imaging. Methods One eye (primary) from each of 200 consecutive patients undergoing Stratus OCT imaging (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA) with radial lines or fast macular thickness-based acquisition protocols was selected for review by 2 graders. On each of the line scans, graders evaluated the position of the automated retinal boundary lines (inner retinal surface and retinal pigment epithelium band) used by the OCT machine for thickness calculations and graded the positioning on a 6-point subjective, categorical error scale to generate an error score. The presence of thickness errors was correlated with various parameters, including the analysis confidence assessment reported by the OCT software, disease diagnosis, retinal morphologic features, the foveal center thickness standard deviation (FCTSD), and the FCTSD-to-foveal center thickness (FCT) ratio. Main Outcome Measure Average OCT retinal thickness error score. Results Errors of retinal boundary detection and thickness measurement were observed in 92% of eyes, but were severe in only 13.5% of eyes. The identification of an error or low analysis confidence by the OCT software was strongly associated with the severity of the retinal thickness errors. A higher FCTSD-to-FCT ratio and presence of subretinal fluid also were associated with more severe errors. Retinal cysts and a diagnosis of retinal vascular disease such as diabetic macular edema were less likely to be associated with significant errors. Conclusions Retinal thickness measurement errors occur frequently with current OCT segmentation and analysis algorithms. Severe errors are more frequent in eyes with subretinal pathologic features, but generally are detected by the OCT software. A high FCTSD-to-FCT ratio (>0.1) also may alert the clinician to the possibility of thickness errors. Clinical studies, particularly those pertaining to subretinal diseases, should consider these errors when incorporating OCT imaging in the study design.
Principles for designing computer music controllers

This paper will present observations on the design, artistic, and human factors of creating digital music controllers. Specific projects will be presented, and a set of design principles will be supported from those examples.
Consideraciones en torno a la sensibilidad gay en la narrativa de Reinaldo Arenas

A partir de algumas constelacoes tematicas e de algumas praticas discursivas encontradas na obra de Reinaldo Arenas, o artigo e um prolegomeno a algumas consideracoes de ordem ideologica que se colocam quando de uma aproximacao a dimensao homosexual de um escritor e sua criacao estetica.
A Small-Sample Correction for Testing for gth-Order Serial Correlation with Artificial Regressions

Monte Carlo experiments establish that the usual ’t-statistic‘ used for testing for first-order serial correlation with artificial regressions is far from being distributed as a Student‘s t in small samples. Rather, it is badly biased in both mean and variance and results in grossly misleading tests of hypotheses when treated as a Student‘s t. (Similar distortions plague the familiar Durbin–Watson statistic.) Simply computed corrections for the mean and variance are derived, however, which are shown to lead to a transformed statistic producing acceptable tests. The test procedure is detailed and exemplar code provided.
Single-Fiber EMG

Single-fiber electromyography (SFEMG) is a selective electromyography (EMG) recording technique that uniquely identifies action potentials (APs) from individual muscle fibers, thus allowing measurement of fiber density (FD) and neuromuscular jitter. FD quantifies the local concentration of muscle fibers within a motor unit and is a sensitive measure of reinnervation. Jitter is the most sensitive in vivo measurement of transmission across the neuromuscular junction and is particularly useful in demonstrating abnormalities associated with myasthenia gravis (MG) and related conditions.