cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interference effects in a cavity for optical amplification

In space situational awareness scenarios, the objects needed to be characterized and identified are usually quite far away and quite dim. Thus, optical detectors need to be able to sense these very dim optical signals. Quantum interference in a three-level system can lead to amplification of optical signals. If we put a three-level system into a cavity tuned to the frequency of an incoming optical signal, we anticipate the amplification possibilities should be increased proportional to the quality factor of the cavity. Our vision is to utilize quantum dots in photonic crystal cavities, but as a stepping stone we first investigate a simple three-level system in a free-space optical cavity. We investigate quantum interference and classical interference effects when a three-level system interacts with both a cavity field mode and an external driving field mode. We find that under certain circumstances the cavity field evolves to be equal in magnitude to, but 180° out-of-phase with the external pump field when the pump field frequency equals the cavity frequency. At this point the resonance fluorescence from the atom in the cavity goes to zero due to a purely classical interference effect between the two out-of-phase fields. This is quite different from the quantum interference that occurs under the right circumstances, when the state populations are coherently driven into a linear combination that is decoupled from any applied field - and population is trapped in the excited states, thus allowing for a population inversion and an amplification of incoming optical signals.
The Origin and Aim of Posterior Analytics II.19

In Posterior Analytics II.19 Aristotle raises and answers the question, how do first principles become known? The usual view is that the question asks about the process or method by which we learn principles and that his answer is induction. I argue that the question asks about the original prior knowledge from which principles become known and that his answer is perception. Hence the aim of II.19 is not to explain how we get all the way to principles but to defend the claim that our knowledge of them originates in perception. Aristotle explains how we learn principles earlier in book II, in his account of definitional inquiry. In II.19 he explains how we reach by induction the preliminary accounts necessary for such inquiries.
Alan Turing and the Mathematical Objection

This paper concerns Alan Turing's ideas about machines, mathematical methods of proof, and intelligence. By the late 1930s, Kurt Godel and other logicians, including Turing himself, had shown that no finite set of rules could be used to generate all true mathematical statements. Yet according to Turing, there was no upper bound to the number of mathematical truths provable by intelligent human beings, for they could invent new rules and methods of proof. So, the output of a human mathematician, for Turing, was not a computable sequence (i.e., one that could be generated by a Turing machine). Since computers only contained a finite number of instructions (or programs), one might argue, they could not reproduce human intelligence. Turing called this the ``mathematical objection'' to his view that machines can think. Logico-mathematical reasons, stemming from his own work, helped to convince Turing that it should be possible to reproduce human intelligence, and eventually compete with it, by developing the appropriate kind of digital computer. He felt it should be possible to program a computer so that it could learn or discover new rules, overcoming the limitations imposed by the incompleteness and undecidability results in the same way that human mathematicians presumably do.
Contrasting characteristics and cache performance of technical and multi-user commercial workloads

Experience has shown that many widely used benchmarks are poor predictors of the performance of systems running commercial applications. Research into this anomaly has long been hampered by a lack of address traces from representative multi-user commercial workloads. This paper presents research, using traces of industry-standard commercial benchmarks, which examines the characteristic differences between technical and commercial workloads and illustrates how those differences affect cache performance.Commercial and technical environments differ in their respective branch behavior, operating system activity, I/O, and dispatching characteristics. A wide range of uniprocessor instruction and data cache geometries were studied. The instruction cache results for commercial workloads demonstrate that instruction cache performance can no longer be neglected because these workloads have much larger code working sets than technical applications. For database workloads, a breakdown of kernel and user behavior reveals that the application component can exhibit behavior similar to the operating system and therefore, can experience miss rates equally high. This paper also indicates that “dispatching” or process switching characteristics must be considered when designing level-two caches. The data presented shows that increasing the associativity of second-level caches can reduce miss rates significantly. Overall, the results of this research should help system designers choose a cache configuration that will perform well in commercial markets.
Proteolytic denaturation and methods of improving the stability of glucose isomerase preparations

Evidence is provided in support of proteolytic denaturation of free and immobilized preparations of glucose isomerase from a Bacillus species. A number of methods to improve the stability with respect to proteolysis have been tested and their advantages as well as shortcomings are discussed. These methods include hollow-fiber treatment, gel permeation, thermal treatment, and addition of protease inhibitors. The half-life of the free and the cellulose acetate fiber-entrapped preparations of glucose isomerase can be significantly improved. For example, the hollow-fiber treatment can improve the half-life by an order of magnitude.
Epithelial dysfunction associated with the development of colitis in conventionally housed mdr1a -/- mice

P-glycoprotein, the product of the multidrug resistance protein 1 (MDR1) gene, is a xenobiotic transporter that may contribute to the physiology of the intestinal barrier. Twenty-five percent of mdr1a-deficient (mdr1a(-/-)) mice spontaneously develop colitis at variable ages when maintained under specific pathogen-free conditions. We hypothesized that this disease would result from epithelial dysfunction and that conventional housing would increase incidence and severity of the colitis phenotype. Wild-type congenic FVB (+/+) mice were maintained under the same conditions as controls. Knockout and wild-type mice were matched for age and gender and observed for signs of colitis. Colonic tissues from both groups of mice were examined for macroscopic and microscopic injury and for basal ion transport and transepithelial resistance (TER). Translocation of bacteria across the intestine was assessed by culturing the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes. Protein analysis was performed by Western blot analysis. All mdr1a(-/-) mice developed weight loss and signs of colitis, whereas wild-type mice never showed such signs. Within the mdr1a(-/-) group, males consistently developed severe colitis earlier than females. Knockout mice showed increased basal colonic ion transport (females, 162.7 +/- 4.6 vs. 49.7 +/- 3.8 muA/cm(2); males, 172.6 +/- 5.6 vs. 54.2 +/- 3.1 muA/cm(2); P < 0.01) and decreased TER (females, 25.4 +/- 0.3 vs. 36.4 +/- 0.8 Omega.cm(2); males, 23.1 +/- 1.0 vs. 38.3 +/- 0.2 Omega.cm(2); P < 0.01) compared with wild-type mice. Barrier dysfunction was accompanied by decreased phosphorylation of tight junction proteins. Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase in intestinal tissues was increased in the mdr1a(-/-) group (P < 0.01) and correlated with disease severity. Bacterial translocation was greater both in incidence (P < 0.01) and severity (P < 0.001) for the knockout group. With respect to all indexes studied, mdr1a(-/-) males performed worse than females. Our data support the hypothesis that alterations in the intestinal barrier alone, in the absence of immune dysfunction, may rapidly lead to colitis in the setting of a normal colonic flora.
Remembering May 4, 1970: Integrating the Commemorative Field at Kent State

Recent research on collective memory suggests that commemorations of difficult pasts take either a multivocal or a fragmented form. I suggest these forms exist as ideal types for the initial commemoration, but the commemorative field, as a whole, remains dynamic over time, effectively shifting between forms. This study traces the creation, maintenance, and transformation of collective memory of the May 4, 1970 shootings at Kent State from 1970 to 2013 using archival sources, media accounts, and participant observation. In examining the commemorative field at Kent, I theorize the existence of a third commemorative form--the integrated commemorative field, which allows for the expression of divergent narratives and the maintenance of separate commemorative spaces while simultaneously enhancing social solidarity through shared meta-narratives that stress overarching values, like human rights or scientific inquiry. Language: en
Understanding dynamics of biological macromolecular complexes by estimating a mechanical model via statistical mechanics from cryo electron microscopy images

Cryo electron microscopy (cryo EM) imaging experiments can lead to stochastic models for biological macromolecular complexes. However, interpreting the statistical variability is difficult. In some situations, the variability in the original complexes is due primarily to thermal fluctuations which are snap frozen in place during the preparation of the specimen. In this case the images are images of samples of the equilibrium statistical mechanics ensemble of the complex. Based on representing the complex by a spring-mass mechanical model, an estimation problem for determining the masses and spring constants is described and demonstrated on synthetic data. With a model, quantities such as normal modes can be computed, which provide insight into the dynamics of biological complexes.
Advances in Research of Necrotizing Hepatopancreatitis Bacterium (NHPB) Affecting Penaeid Shrimp Aquaculture

Necrotizing hepatopancreatitis (NHP) is a severe bacterial disease affecting penaeid shrimp aquaculture. NHP is caused by the gram-negative, pleomorphic, obligately intracellular NHP-bacterium (NHPB) that targets the hepatopancreas tissue of shrimp. NHPB is classified as an α -proteobacterium and is related to members of the Rickettsia. First reported in 1985 in a Texas shrimp farm, NHP has since affected shrimp farming in several North and South American countries, causing mortalities up to 95% and devastating economic losses to aquaculture crops. Because NHPB remains unculturable through traditional in vitro methods, the development of an in vivo cultivation system of NHPB in susceptible, specific pathogen-free Litopenaeus vannamei has allowed advancement of experimental research, including NHPB population biology and transmission dynamics. Current research on NHPB is discussed relative to management strategies of NHP disease in a shrimp pond. Compared to other important shrimp pathogens, NHPB is geogra...
Development of SOVAT: a numerical-spatial decision support system for community health assessment research.

Abstract Introduction The development of numerical–spatial routines is frequently required to solve complex community health problems. Community health assessment (CHA) professionals who use information technology need a complete system that is capable of supporting the development of numerical–spatial routines. Background Currently, there is no decision support system (DSS) that is effectively able to accomplish this task as the majority of public health geospatial information systems (GIS) are based on traditional (relational) database architecture. On-Line Analytical Processing (OLAP) is a multidimensional data warehouse technique that is commonly used as a decision support system in standard industry. OLAP alone is not sufficient for solving numerical–spatial problems that frequently occur in CHA research. Coupling it with GIS technology offers the potential for a very powerful and useful system. Methodology A community health OLAP cube was created by integrating health and population data from various sources. OLAP and GIS technologies were then combined to develop the Spatial OLAP Visualization and Analysis Tool (SOVAT). Results The synergy of numerical and spatial environments within SOVAT is shown through an elaborate and easy-to-use drag and drop and direct manipulation graphical user interface (GUI). Community health problem-solving examples (routines) using SOVAT are shown through a series of screen shots. Discussion The impact of the difference between SOVAT and existing GIS public health applications can be seen by considering the numerical–spatial problem-solving examples. These examples are facilitated using OLAP–GIS functions. These functions can be mimicked in existing GIS public applications, but their performance and system response would be significantly worse since GIS is based on traditional (relational) backend. Conclusion OLAP–GIS system offer great potential for powerful numerical–spatial decision support in community health analysis. The functionality of an OLAP–GIS system has been shown through a series of example community health numerical–spatial problems. Efforts are now focused on determining its usability during human–computer interaction (HCI). Later work will focus on performing summative evaluations comparing SOVAT to existing decision support tools used during community health assessment research.
The Rise and Fall of the New JerseyStock Exchange

The Tea Party that emerged in the wake of what is now called the Great Recession is not the first such group to co-opt the symbolism of the Boston Tea Party for political purposes. The first “Tea Partiers” were also an unlikely group of activists protesting the infringement of “freedom” by government. This Tea Party was comprised of Wall Street brokers, stock traders, and other businessmen who, in 1933, decided to move the New York Stock Exchange to Newark in protest against the New York City’s new stock taxes. This article discusses this important history in order to show that, in many ways, we have returned to the past and have experienced similar contradictions. Now, as then, we are both poorer and richer, more connected and more isolated, cognizant of our interdependence and simultaneously unaware of the cascading effects of our individual decisions. The article also examines the important differences in past and present, such as a Tea Party in favor of Wall Street, culture wars, and a consolidation of power on Wall Street. A close examination of this history can help us understand the future by looking to the past.
Age and gender differences in productive activities: revisited

The present investigation examined the participation of adults in a broad array of productive activities. Data are from two waves of a national household survey of adults 25 years and older in the U.S. conducted in 1986 and again in 1989. The purpose of this study was to describe stability and change in involvement in productive activity. Results demonstrate a great deal of stability in participation across the two waves. Some change in participation was detected, however, and analy­ ses revealed that age and gender were associated with change in several activities.
Leukotriene Synthesis by UV-Irradiated Macrophage Cell Cultures

Mouse peritoneal macrophage cells, prelabeled with 14C-arachidonic acid, were treated with ultraviolet radiation (254 nm) or the Ca2+ ionophore A23187. After incubation, leukotrienes were extracted from the cultures and were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and liquid scintillation counting. Five14C peaks were observed in both the UV-irradiated and Ca2+-ionophore-treated culture extracts. Leukotriene C4 and leukotriene B4 were identified by coelution with standards. The UV-irradiated cell cultures produced twice as much LTC4 and four times as much LTB4 as did the Ca2+-ionophore-treated cell cultures.
Vascular Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibition, a New Mechanism for How Peroxisome Proliferator–Activated Receptor-γ Protects Target Organ Damage

See related article, pp 214–222 Of the cardiovascular complications attributable to hypertension, vascular remodeling is believed to be a crucial precursor for hypertension-associated end-organ damage. Alterations in the arterial wall include enhanced arterial wall thickness and stiffening associated with collagen deposition, endothelial dysfunction, and perivascular/adventitial fibrosis and inflammation, ultimately contributing to elevations in blood pressure and exacerbation of cardiovascular complications, such as those in the heart and kidney.1 Among the key contributors to vascular remodeling, the roles of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in extracellular matrix homeostasis seem essential. It has been recognized that during the development of hypertension, the environment in the vessel wall and cell types favor excessive activity of MMPs with commensurate upregulation of TIMPs leading to an altered balance between MMPs and TIMPs. Specifically, enhanced degradation of extracellular matrix enables vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) to migrate and proliferate and inflammatory cells to infiltrate the arterial wall during the remodeling process.2 Alternatively, if TIMPs override MMPs, a depressed degradation of collagen type I may facilitate aortic stiffness and organ fibrosis in hypertension.2 Indeed, MMP9 knockout enhances vascular collagen accumulation, hypertension, and pulse pressure,3 whereas TIMP-3 knockout attenuates hypertension, vascular hypertrophy, and fibrosis on angiotensin II infusion.4 Thus, translational approaches to target either TIMPs or MMPs could …
COHERENT Neutrino Scattering

Abstract The experimental program to search for the coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering at the Spallation Neutron Source is presented.
Engineering Functional Bone Grafts

There is a strong medical need for biological tissue grafts that could reestablish the structure and function of bone lost to a major injury or disease. Routinely used prosthetic devices are most helpful in providing the necessary structure and mechanical support, but these devices often fail to fully integrate with the host tissues, and generally do not last longer than about 10 years. In addition, the important metabolic function of bone most certainly cannot be provided by prosthetic devices. Tissue engineering is now offering a potential to grow fully biological substitutes of native tissues, by an integrated use of living cells, biomaterial scaffolds, and culture systems (bioreactors). Today, tissue engineering modalities are designed based on the biological requirements and clinical constraints, and the progress is largely made at the interfaces between bioengineering, basic, and clinical sciences. This chapter is discussing the design criteria and parameters essential for engineering bone grafts, as well as the current status and future perspective of the field.
ECOSYSTEM GAS EXCHANGE ACROSS A CREATED SALT MARSH CHRONOSEQUENCE

Salt marshes created on dredge spoil were compared to natural marshes to evaluate the capacity of created marshes to perform carbon cycle functions. Several carbon cycle attributes were measured in eight created Spartina alterniflora Loisel salt marshes that ranged from one to 28 years, each paired with a nearby mature natural reference marsh. The attributes measured included gross primary production, respiration, net ecosystem exchange, potential microbial respiration (CH4 and CO2), and aboveground biomass. In situ exchange rates of CO2 and plant biomass in created marshes met or exceeded those of reference marshes in three to four years. There was some evidence that ecosystem gas exchange in created marshes developed slightly faster than aboveground biomass production. Soil carbon mineralization per gram carbon was generally higher in the created marshes than reference marshes, suggesting higher carbon quality and/or nutrient availability in the created marshes. However, carbon mineralization rates per gram soil were relatively low in the created marshes due to lower soil organic matter content. With proper construction, we suggest most major carbon fluxes can be established in created salt marshes in less than five years.
Creating a Web-based image database for benchmarking image retrieval systems

There is, at present, a critical need within image retrieval research for an image testbed which would enable the objective evaluation of different content-based search engines, indexing and metadata schemes, and search heuristics, as well as research and evaluation in image- based knowledge structures and system architectures, user's needs in image retrieval and the cognitive processes involved in image searching. This paper discusses a pilot project specifying and establishing a prototype testbed for the evaluation of image retrieval techniques. A feasibility study is underway focusing on the development of a large set of standardized test images accessible through a web interface, and researchers in the field are being surveyed for input. Areas being addressed in the feasibility study include technical specifications as well as content issues such as: which specific image domains to include; the useful proportion of imags belonging to specific domains to images belonging to a general 'world' domain; types of image attributes and baseline and 'advanced' levels of image description needed, and research needs to be accommodated, as well as development of a standardized set of test queries and the establishment of methods for 'truthing' the database and test queries.
Foreword: Prison Reformed Revisited: The Unfinished Agenda

Prison Reform Revisited: The Unfinished Agenda, which was held at Pace Law School from October 16-18, 2003, was a remarkable event. At this conference leading academics, attorneys, prison reformers, judges, prison officials and international prison reformers gathered at Pace Law School and the New York State Judicial Center in White Plains, New York to discuss how to advance the cause of prison reform in the U.S. This issue of the Pace Law Review is devoted to the papers presented in connection with that important conference.
Superresolution Investigation of the E. coli Cell Division Ring during Constriction

The E. coli cell division machinery are recruited to midcell by a ring-like structure formed by the highly conserved FtsZ protein. This “Z-ring” scaffold can generate a membrane bending force that may be critical for cytokinesis. Several mechanistic models for Z-ring force generation have been presented, but are limited in detail by insufficient data regarding the arrangement of FtsZ filaments within the Z-ring and regarding the role of FtsZ's GTPase activity in constriction progression.Structural details about the Z-ring have recently become clearer due to advancements in both optical and electron microscopy. Super-resolution fluorescence microscopy and electron cryotomography studies support a loosely bundled arrangement of FtsZ filaments, resulting in both sparse regions and dense clusters within the Z-ring. Super-resolution imaging also revealed that the Z-ring can adopt both a single-ring conformation at midcell and a multiple-ring conformation reminiscent of a tight helix.We have built upon these previous studies to determine the three-dimensional structure of the E. coli Z-ring in super resolution using Photoactivated Localization Microscopy (PALM) and analyze its changes during constriction. We used quantitative analyses of PALM and time-lapse data to assess the plausibility of various FtsZ-centric constriction mechanisms. We found that the cell wall constriction rate is not correlated to Z-ring assembly/disassembly dynamics, density, or GTPase activity. These characterizations help refine and re-define the role of FtsZ in cytokinesis.
Influence of extracellular Ca2+ and Mg2+ on chemotactic factor-induced neutrophil aggregation.

The influences of extracellular Ca2+ and Mg2+ on chemotactic factor-induced rabbit polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) aggregation was studied using a recently described Coulter counter assay technique. Compared with those of other PMN functional assays (adhesion, chemotaxis, degranulation, and phagocytosis), the cation requirements for cell aggregation appear unique. Chemotactic factor-induced aggregation did not occur in the absence of either cation. When the concentration of both cations was increased equivalently, aggregation increased. The effect plateaued at 2.8 mM of Ca2+ and Mg2+. When the concentration of one cation alone was increased, aggregation peaked. Further increases inhibited maximal aggregation. By systematic variation of the cation concentrations, optimal aggregation was found at Ca2+ and Mg2+ concentrations of 2.8 mM. At these concentrations, significant aggregation was induced with chemotactic doses of bacterial factor, the chemotactic fragment of human C5, and the synthetic chemotactic tripeptide, formyl-met-leu-phe. Thus, under these conditions, chemotactic factor-induced-aggregation of neutrophils may be a useful indicator of interactions of chemotactic factors with neutrophils.
Hypothetical Redesign of the New York Metro Airspace (New Vehicle NRA)

In the NASA Research Announcement (NRA) project entitled \Advanced Vehicle Concepts and Implications for NextGen" we study how the air tra c management (ATM) system might be impacted by the introduction of novel vehicle classes. An integral part of this e ort is the redesign of airspace and ight procedures to accommodate these vehicles and thereby minimize environmental impacts and fuel burn while at the same time, maintain airport and airspace capacity. The New York Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) otherwise known as N90 was selected for this exercise. In order to undertake this study, we assume the major NextGen concepts and technologies are in place enabling aircraft to be routed and own more precisely and along complex routes than those being own today. Airports in the vicinity of New York City are extremely congested. John F. Kennedy International (JFK), Newark International (EWR), LaGuardia (LGA) and Teterboro (TEB) airports are some of the busiest in the United States, with JFK, EWR and LGA ranking 12th, 14th and 18th respectively in 2007 in terms of number of takeo s and landings by air carriers, air taxis, general aviation and military aircraft. These four airports may be circumscribed by a circle that is 20 NM in diameter, leading to high levels of congestion and with tra c numbers set to grow along with the introduction of new vehicles, an entire re-design of the airspace and its procedures is necessary. This re-design e ort also includes the following airports in the New York metropolitan area: Stewart International (Newburgh), Long Island Mac Arthur (Islip), Westchester County (White Plains), and Republic (Farmingdale). When all of these airports are in operation, the multiple runway usage leads to interactions between the various ows of tra c arriving and departing each airport. An image of the current procedures into the afore mentioned airports can be seen in Figure 1. Many of the airports share the same procedures, while there are numerous intersecting tracks resulting in coupling between the procedures. Unlike the procedures proposed for this re-design, almost all aircraft are vectored onto the nal approach to their landing runways while the redesigned airspace features a grid-like layout and all aircraft have set paths to and from landing and departing runways. As tra c increases at the satellite airports, these interactions will become more numerous leading to increased congestion in the airspace. This paper describes the principles used in the design of the procedures that have been created for the new vehicles being studied. These include: present aircraft (referred to as ’nominal aircraft’ in this paper), Cruise-e cient short takeo and landing transports (CESTOL), large civil tiltrotor (LCTR), very light jets (VLJ) and large supersonic transport (LSST) aircraft.
Synthesis of TiC‐TiB2 Composite Powders from Carbon Coated TiO2 Precursors

Abstract Submicron TiC-TiB 2 composite powders were synthesized by carbo/borothermal reductions from a novel carbon coated TiO 2 precursors method. Reactants were also mechanically mixed for comparison. Precursors and conventionally mixed powders were reacted from 1100 to 1500 °C for 2 h in flowing argon at 1 L/min. Phase evolution, thermodynamic analysis, microstructures, and surface areas were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analyzer, respectively. Products synthesized from precursors had high purity of TiC-TiB 2 mixture, fine particle size, narrow size distribution, regular shape, loose agglomeration, and high surface area. Powders with different compositions were also prepared by controlling the ratio between reactants. The sintering tests demonstrated that produced powders can be sintered to a 99.6% relative density using 5 wt% nickel additives at 1550 °C for 2 h in flowing argon atmosphere.
Study on the current status of community nursing human resources in Ezhou City

Objective To analyze the current status of community nursing human resources and provide reference for nurse staffing of community nursing.Method The methods of questionnaire survey and literature review were used to investigate the number and structure of community nursing human resources.Result The community nursing staff showed lower in terms of age,educational level,professional title and working years.The nursing service items were narrow.Conclusion The quality of community nursing team is relatively low,which will negatively influence the quality of community nursing and roles of community nurses.It is necessary to improve the quality of community nurses and regulate the structure of community nurse team.
Experiences of Japanese Nurse Scholars: Insights for U.S. Faculty

The purpose of this paper is to describe the international educational experiences of Japanese nurse scholars to develop more understanding within academic settings in the United States (U.S.). Based on Heideggerian phenomenology, interpretive methods were used to analyze 42 interviews. Participants of this study were 22 Japanese nurse scholars who had received or were in the process of receiving master or doctoral degrees from schools of nursing in the U.S., and three Japanese nurse consultants. To build trust and aid with self-disclosure, participants were interviewed up to three times. The analytic process used overlapping strategies, including early identification of principal themes, interpretive writing based on exemplars, and paradigm cases illustrative of major themes. Themes discussed in this paper include: changes in the sense of self; cultural differences in self-disclosure; the importance of the advisor; mental health issues; strategies for support; differences between practices in the U.S. and Japan; and experiences of returning to Japan.
Racial Discrimination and Pathways to Delinquency: Testing a Theory of African American Offending

The current study draws on two cohorts of African American youths from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods, Longitudinal Cohort Study to examine whether perceived racial discrimination directly and indirectly affects juvenile delinquency. The analyses reveal that racial discrimination may foster offending by increasing (1) the likelihood that African American youths will drop out of school and (2) the degree to which they associate with delinquent peers. Evidence supporting the pathway between racial discrimination, associating with delinquent peers, and offending was found after introducing controls for demographic, social, and individual trait factors. In a society that remains racialized, it thus appears that a full explanation of African Americans' offending should take into account the ways in which racial subordination may place African American youths on pathways that lead toward criminal involvement. Language: en
MR Imaging of Pediatric Bone Marrow

This article reviews normal pediatric bone marrow (histologic composition, MR imaging appearance, normal marrow conversion), mimics of disease (heterogeneous red marrow, red marrow hyperplasia), and abnormal marrow (neoplastic replacement, treatment-related changes, edema-like marrow alterations).
The Interdependence of Social Justice and Civil Society

Has civil society declined in the United States in the past 20 years? Multiple indicators suggest evidence for decline. This paper questions Robert Putnam's generational explanation for decline and suggests an alternative explanation, namely the structural economic transformation of the U.S. and how it has been managed. Individuals' perceptions of economic distress have increased since 1972 and are related to changes in indicators of civil society, including associational memberships, trust, anomia, and espoused racial and gay tolerance. Economic distress is also related to political interest and participation. Other consequences of an eroding civil society are discussed, including rising crime and inhibited economic productivity
Determining the effects of the FEMA Community Rating System program on flood losses in the United States

Abstract Among all natural hazards inflicting the United States floods continue to impose the most economic disruption. Increasing physical risk coupled with development in flood-prone areas has amplified the adverse economic and human impacts of flooding. In an effort to counter mounting flood losses, the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency introduced the Community Rating System in 1990 as a way to incentivize local jurisdictions to exceed the existing minimum standard for floodplain management. In response to the lack of comprehensive knowledge on the effectiveness of the CRS, this study quantitatively evaluates the difference in flood losses experienced by CRS-participating communities. We pose the following research question: do CRS communities incur lower losses than non-CRS communities when accounting for contextual environmental and socioeconomic characteristics? Results from a two-step analysis consisting of propensity score matching and pooled linear regressions indicate that the CRS program has had a statistically significant effect on reducing the amount of insured flood losses incurred by communities across the U.S. In addition to receiving discounts on insurance premium rates, communities participating in the CRS also experienced a 41.6% overall average reduction in flood claims compared to communities with similar characteristics that do not participate.
Temporal Patterns in the Abundance and Species Composition of Spiders on Host Plants of the Invasive Moth Epiphyas postvittana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae).

Generalist predators such as spiders may help mitigate the spread and impact of exotic herbivores. The lack of prey specificity and long generation times of spiders may allow them to persist when pests are scarce, and to limit the growth of pest populations before they reach damaging levels. We examined whether resident spiders are likely to play a role in maintaining populations of the invasive light brown apple moth, Epiphyas postvittana (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), below outbreak levels in California. We surveyed the spider community on two E. postvittana host plants, the ornamental Australian tea tree, Leptospermum laevigatum, and the weed French broom, Genista monspessulana, to characterize spider and larval E. postvittana abundance and spider species composition throughout the year. Spider densities and species composition showed slight seasonal changes. Spiders were present during periods of high and low E. postvittana abundance. Anyphaenid hunting spiders, Anyphaena aperta Banks in Australian tea tree and Anyphaena pacifica Banks in French broom, dominated spider species composition at four of five sampled sites, and underwent only slight seasonal variation in abundance. Adult A. aperta were rare at all times of the year, suggesting that high mortality among juvenile A. aperta limits the potential of this species as a predator of E. postvittana. Nevertheless, the continued presence of spiders throughout the year indicates that the resident spider community is likely to play a key role in reducing E. postvittana populations in California.
Forensic Markers Associated with a History of Elder Mistreatment and Self-Neglect: A Case-Control Study:

Elder mistreatment (EM) and elder self-neglect (SN) are risk factors for mortality. Medical examiners (ME) seldom investigate EM and SN as potential influences of death in older adults. Recognizing...
Role of defects in the carrier-tunable topological-insulator ( Bi 1 − x Sb x ) 2 Te 3 thin films

Alloys of ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{2}{\mathrm{Te}}_{3}$ and ${\mathrm{Sb}}_{2}{\mathrm{Te}}_{3}\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}[{({\mathrm{Bi}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Sb}}_{x})}_{2}{\mathrm{Te}}_{3}]$ have played an essential role in the exploration of topological surface states, allowing us to study phenomena that would otherwise be obscured by bulk contributions to conductivity. Despite intensive transport and angle resolved photoemission (ARPES) studies, important questions about this system remain unanswered. For example, previous studies reported the chemical tuning of the Fermi level to the Dirac point by controlling the Sb:Bi composition ratio, but the optimum ratio varies widely across various studies. Moreover, it is unclear how the quasiparticle lifetime is affected by the disorder resulting from Sb/Bi alloying. In this work, we use scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy to study the electronic structure of epitaxially grown (Bi,${\mathrm{Sb})}_{2}{\mathrm{Te}}_{3}$ thin films at the nanoscale. We study Landau levels (LLs) to determine the effect of disorder on the quasiparticle lifetime as well as the position of the Dirac point with respect to the Fermi energy. A plot of the LL peak widths shows that despite the intrinsic disorder, the quasiparticle lifetime is not significantly degraded. We further determine that the ideal Sb concentration to place the Fermi energy to within a few meV of the Dirac point is $x\ensuremath{\sim}0.7$, but that postannealing temperatures can have a significant effect on the crystallinity and Fermi level position. Specifically, high postgrowth annealing temperature can result in better crystallinity and surface roughness, but also produces a larger Te defect density which adds $n$-type carriers. Finally, in combination with quasiparticle interference imaging, the dispersion is revealed over a large energy range above the Fermi energy, in a regime inaccessible to ARPES. Interestingly, the surface state dispersion for the $x\ensuremath{\sim}0.7$ sample shows great similarity to pristine ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{2}{\mathrm{Te}}_{3}$. This work provides microscopic information on the role of disorder and composition in determining carrier concentration, surface state dispersion, and quasiparticle lifetime in (${\mathrm{Bi}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Sb}}_{x}$)${}_{2}{\mathrm{Te}}_{3}$.
Co-Opt or Coexist? A Study of Medical Cannabis Dispensaries’ Identity-Based Responses to Recreational-Use Legalization in Colorado and Washington

When recreational cannabis dispensaries first entered the U.S. market in 2014, how did incumbent medical cannabis dispensaries react? Did they emphasize their distinct identity as medical providers, distancing themselves from recreational dispensaries and those consumers who consume cannabis recreationally? Or did they downplay their medical orientation to compete directly for potential resources? In this study, we propose that how incumbent organizations position their identities in response to increasing competition from an emerging rival form depends on key audiences’ acceptance of the new form. Using data on the evolving cannabis markets in the states of Colorado and Washington during the year following the initial emergence of the recreational category, we find a sharpening of identity among medical dispensaries in communities with low voter support for recreational-use legalization. Medical dispensaries accentuated the medical orientation of their identities as recreational dispensaries increasingly...
Foreign Official Immunity After Samantar: A United States Government Perspective

I. THE WORLD BEFORE SAMANTAR 1142 II. SAMANTAR AND ITS IMPLICATIONS 1146 III. THE EMERGING POST-SAMANTAR PROCESS 1149 A. Five Tenets of Official Immunity Practice ......... 1152 B. Non-Samantar Status Issues 1155 C. Non-Samantar Procedural Issues 1158 D. The Sound of Silence 1159
The relationship between moderate hyperopia and academic achievement: how much plus is enough?

Background There is evidence linking uncorrected hyperopia in children with academic learning problems. Methods This study was designed to test that hypothesis and--given supportive data--to then address a second topic: the minimal amount of uncorrected hyperopia that appears to impede elementary school performance. Results The refractive status and achievement test scores of 782 first-through-fifth grade children were compared. Conclusions Statistical analysis indicated significantly lower achievement test scores among hyperopic children whose refractive errors exceeded 1.25 D (ANOVA F = 12.51; df = 4; p = 0.014).
Attenuation of Electromagnetic Waves by a Plasma Layer at Atmospheric Pressure

Plasma layers at atmospheric pressure, are good broad band absorbers of electromagnetic radiation. However, to get substantial attenuations, two parameters have to be optimized. These are the plasma number density, and the thickness of the plasma layer. It is found that in order to be an effective attenuator of microwave radiation, a plasma layer has to have a number density in the 1013 cm−3 range, and a thickness equal or larger than the wavelength of the incident wave. However, as the frequency increases, the amount of attenuation tends to reach a limiting value directly proportional to the number density.
PAKISTAN’S FAILED COMMITMENT: How Pakistan's Institutionalized Persecution of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Violates the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

The United Nations (“UN”) adopted the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (“ICCPR”) in 1966 and officially implemented it in 1976 to ensure, among other guarantees, that no 1 The author is an American-Muslim human rights activist, writer, and lecturer on American-Islamic issues. He received his Bachelors of Science in Marketing from the University of Illinois at Chicago (2006) and is completing his Juris Doctorate from the University of Richmond School of Law (2012), where he serves as Executive Editor of the Richmond Journal of Global Law and Business and Founder and President of the Muslim Law Student Association. He can be reached at q.rashid@richmond.edu. The author also expresses his sincere gratitude to his father, Rashid Yahya, wife, Ayesha Noor, colleague, Amjad Mahmood Khan, the Richmond Law Faculty, and the Richmond Journal of Global Law and Business. Each provided generous help, support, and insight on the various issues addressed in this paper. Without each of their involvement, this paper would not have been possible. 2 Akbar S. Ahmed, Jefferson and Jinnah: Humanist Ideals and the Mythodology of Nation-Building, in THE FUTURE OF LIBERAL DEMOCRACY: THOMAS JEFFERSON AND THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD 85, 91 (Rouhollah K. Ramazini & Robert Fatton eds., 2004). * This paper is dedicated to Pakistan’s visionary Founder and first GovernorGeneral, Muhammad Ali Jinnah (1876-1948), who fought valiantly for a nation founded on the tenets of freedom, equality, and pluralism. Under his revolutionary leadership, millions of individuals of all backgrounds were granted the opportunity to live in a liberated nation, free from the shackles of oppression. Let this paper serve as a reminder that Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s vision of a free nation, though obscured behind the veil of extremism, is still possible, should Pakistanis and the world at large wish it to be.
Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease: A Neuroimaging Study with Deep Learning Architectures

Alzheimer's Disease is an incurable, progressive neurological brain disorder. Early diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease can help with proper treatment and prevent brain tissue damage. Several statistical and machine learning models have been exploited by researchers for Alzheimer's Disease diagnosis. Detection of Alzheimer's Disease is exacting due to the similarity in Alzheimer's Disease Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) data and standard healthy MRI data of older people. Recently, advanced deep learning techniques have successfully demonstrated human-level performance in numerous fields including medical image analysis. We propose a deep convolutional neural network for Alzheimer's Disease diagnosis using brain MRI data analysis. We have conducted ample experiments to demonstrate that our proposed model outperforms comparative baselines on the Open Access Series of Imaging Studies (OASIS) dataset.
Impact of Low-Frequency Ripple on Lifetime of Battery in MMC-based Battery Storage Systems

Modular multilevel converter (MMC)-based battery energy storage system (BESS) is a promising solution for grid-level battery energy storage to accelerate utilization and integration of intermittent renewable energy resources, i.e., solar and wind energy. When the battery units are directly integrated in submodules (SMs) without dc-dc interfaced converters, this configuration provides the highest system efficiency and lowest cost. However, the lifetime of battery will be affected by the low-frequency components contained in arm currents, which has not been investigated. This paper investigates impact of various low-frequency arm-current ripples on lifetime of Li-ion battery cells and evaluate the performance of battery charging and discharging in an MMC-BESS without dc-dc interfaced converters.
Proton Discharge on a Gold Electrode from Triethylammonium in Acetonitrile: Theoretical Modeling of Potential-Dependent Kinetic Isotope Effects

The discharge of protons on electrode surfaces, known as the Volmer reaction, is a ubiquitous reaction in heterogeneous electrocatalysis and plays an important role in renewable energy technologies. Recent experiments with triethylammonium (TEAH+) donating the proton to a gold electrode in acetonitrile demonstrate significantly different Tafel slopes for TEAH+ and its deuterated counterpart, TEAD+. As a result, the kinetic isotope effect (KIE) for the hydrogen evolution reaction changes considerably as a function of applied potential. Herein a vibronically nonadiabatic approach for proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) at an electrode interface is extended to heterogeneous electrochemical processes and is applied to this system. This approach accounts for the key effects of the electrical double layer and spans the electronically adiabatic and nonadiabatic regimes, as found to be necessary for this reaction. The experimental Tafel plots for TEAH+ and TEAD+ are reproduced using physically reasonable para...
Fictions of Human Development: Renaissance Cognitive Philosophy and the Romance

Fictions of human development are stories that both explore and portray the evolution of the human mind in relation to its physical, social and historical context. They emerge at a time when the understanding and the representation of consciousness are evolving and becoming increasingly complex, regarding both subjectivity and intersubjectivity. Taking Cervantes’s Don Quixote as a prototype, this chapter explores how the notion of human cognitive development is comprehended and expressed through fictional discourses in the Renaissance, discussing (1) the generic affiliation of these fictions, (2) the early modern philosophical ideas that relate to them and to the work of Cervantes and (3) how Cervantes portrays human development through his character Sancho Panza.