cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inference and combination of missing data sets for the determination of H2O2 thermal decomposition rate uncertainty

Abstract The thermal decomposition of H 2 O 2 is an important process in hydrocarbon combustion, playing a particularly crucial role in providing a source of radicals at high pressure where it controls the 3rd explosion limit in the H 2 - O 2 system, and also as a branching reaction in intermediate-temperature hydrocarbon oxidation. As such, estimating the Arrhenius parameters of the rate expression for this reaction and their joint uncertainty is crucial for performing meaningful predictive combustion computations. Raw experimental data is typically unavailable for most reported investigations of elementary reaction rates. Rather, what is typically available are summary statistics on measured quantities. The unavoidable loss of information in the use of summary statistics versus raw data for inference makes the direct computation of the necessary joint uncertainty structure of the parameters in rate expressions difficult. To overcome this situation we perform a statistical inference procedure relying on maximum entropy principles and approximate Bayesian computation methods, and employing a two-level nested Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithm, to approximate the joint posterior density on the H 2 O 2 decomposition rate parameters for a selected case of laser absorption measurements in a shock tube study, subject to the constraints imposed by the rate constant statistics and available information reported for this experiment. This procedure constructs a set of hypothetical H 2 O 2 concentration decay profiles consistent with the reported statistics in the form of mean values and error bars of rate constants at the given experiment temperatures, and the data fitting model originally employed by the experimentalists - essentially reconstructing the missing experimental data in an approximate form. These consistent hypothetical data sets are then used to determine the joint Arrhenius parameter density through straightforward Bayesian inference within a pooling procedure. We apply the method in the context of combining the information within a single experimental setting (i.e. across a temperature range for fixed pressure) for the purposes of estimating Arrhenius parameters, and then extend the analysis to incorporate information from additional experiments (at a different target pressure) resulting in a decrease in the uncertainty of the parameter estimates as this new information is employed. We also highlight the flexibility of operating in this data-centric framework with a view to generating unbiased consensus rate expressions up to the full mechanism level when using multiple sources of experimental results in different forms.
Quaternionic arithmetic groups

In this chapter, we now apply our topological and geometric interpretation of discrete groups in our case of interest: quaternion unit groups.
Mithra: Anomaly Detection as an Oracle for Cyberphysical Systems

Testing plays an essential role in ensuring the safety and quality of cyberphysical systems (CPSs). One of the main challenges in automated and software-in-the-loop simulation testing of CPSs is defining effective oracles that can check that a given system conforms to expectations of desired behavior. Manually specifying such oracles can be tedious, complex, and error-prone, and so techniques for automatically learning oracles are attractive. Characteristics of CPSs, such as limited or no access to source code, behavior that is non-deterministic and sensitive to noise, and that the system may respond differently to input based on its context introduce considerable challenges for automated oracle learning. We present Mithra, a novel, unsupervised oracle learning technique for CPSs that operates on existing telemetry data. It uses a three-step multivariate time series clustering to discover the set of unique, correct behaviors for a CPS, which it uses to construct robust oracles. We instantiate our proposed technique for ArduPilot, a popular, open-source autopilot software. On a set of 24 bugs, we show that Mithra effectively identifies buggy executions with few false positives and outperforms AR-SI, a state-of-the-art CPS oracle learning technique. We demonstrate Mithra's wider applicability by applying it to an autonomous racer built for the Robot Operating System.
Routes of Transmission of Swine Hepatitis E virus in Pigs

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is believed to be transmitted by the fecal-oral route in pigs. To date, HEV has been transmitted experimentally by the intravenous or intrahepatic route. To assess the possible route (s) of HEV transmission, tonsil/nasal secretions, use of contaminated needles, or fecal-oral exposures were simulated in a swine bioassay. Three positive-control pigs were inoculated intravenously with swine HEV and served as the source of biological samples (tonsil/nasal secretion swabs, bloodcontaminated needles, or pooled fresh feces) to be used as inocula in the swine bioassay. Three uninoculated pigs were placed with the positive-control pigs and served as contact controls. Weekly fecal and serum samples from each exposed pig were tested for anti-HEV antibodies and HEV RNA to confirm HEV infection. All positive-control and contact-control pigs became infected. One of three fecaloral exposed pigs shed the virus in feces and seroconverted. Three pigs exposed to the tonsil/nasal secretion swabs and the three pigs exposed to the contaminated needles remained negative. The fecal-oral route of transmission was confirmed in pigs. It is less likely that HEV is transmitted via contaminated needles or tonsil/nasal secretions.
The Struggle for Intellectual Freedom in Historic China

It is a great pleasure and a great honor to speak with Dr. Koht on this question of intellectual freedom. It is most fitting that the main speaker of this occasion should be my esteemed friend Dr. Koht, the biographer of Ibsen, one of the greatest champions of intellectual freedom in the modern world.
GUIDES: Insight through Indicators

GUIDES is an easily remembered framework that can help the business leader and student to confidently and quickly identify, organize, and interpret a country's key economic indicators. Alternatively, it can help them to evaluate third-party analyses and to compare such analyses across countries. In either case, this framework provides a structured way to complete and communicate analysis of a country's economic data.Learning Objective:To provide a framework students can use to identify, organize, and interpret macroeconomic data.
The health of children, a crisis of ethics.

A number of reviews emphasize the considerable extent to which infants and children of this country continue to be burdened with afflictions and risks of poor health.1-4 Persistent problems invite speculation that either the nation9s wisdom or its resources are insufficient to serve fully the health needs of children. Neither of these explanations is well supported. A thoughtful policy paper5 published by the World Bank, dealing with the health of all children in the world, marshalls evidence that the most pressing health problems of children can be controlled or treated with presently known technologies. For this country, the Select Panel for the Promotion of Child Health found that the most pressing children9s health problems were related to deficiencies of access to essential basic health services, and that the cost of providing those services as a public expense would be both small and cost effective.6 Services for children account for an exceedingly small portion of the federal health expenditures; out-of-pocket payments for children9s health services are proportionally higher than for any other age group, even though a higher propontion of children than any other age group live in poverty-level households.7,8 Explanations other than lack of information or lack of national resources must be sought for the failure of this nation to address adequately the health needs of children. This paper attempts to serve two purposes. It first marshalls new testimony on the health status of children and then attempts to analyze barriers that thwart effort to address unmet needs. In the first instance, the circumstances quoted are intended to confirm that in spite of substantial progress over the past decade there are some persistent problems and some new warning signals about children9s health.
On-line microbore high-performance liquid chromatography—capillary gas chromatography—mass spectrometry

Abstract An Isotachic (constant linear velocity) splitter design is applied to multidetection analysis. Splitters fabricated by the bundling of highly uniform capillaries allow low-dispersive real-time monitoring in multidimensional chromatography and permit the simultaneous monitoring of several detectors without loss in sensitivity (for concentration-based detection).
Simulation of High-Frequency Wave Propagation in Complex Crustal Waveguides Using Generalized Screen Propagators

In the crustal waveguide environment, the major part of wave energy is carried by forward propagating waves, including forward scattered waves. Therefore, neglecting backscattered waves in numerical modeling will not modify the main features of regional waves in most cases. By neglecting backscattering in the theory, the wave modeling becomes a forward marching problem in which the next step of propagation depends only on the present values of the wavefield in a transverse cross-section and the heterogeneities between the present cross-section and the next one (wavefield extrapolation interval). The saving of computation time and computer memory is enormous. A half-space screen propagator (generalized screen propagator) has been developed to accommodate the free-surface boundary condition for modeling SH wave propagation in complex crustal waveguides. The SH screen propagator has also been extended to handle irregular surface topography using conformal or non-conformal topographic transforms. The screen propagator for modeling regional SH waves has been calibrated extensively against some full-wave methods, such as the wavenumber integration, finite-difference and boundary element methods, for different crustal models. Excellent agreement with these full-wave methods demonstrated the validity and accuracy of the new one-way propagator method. For medium size problems, the screen-propagator method is 2–3 orders of magnitude faster than finite-difference methods. It has been used for the simulation of Lg propagation in crustal models with random heterogeneities and the related energy partition, attenuation and blockage. It is found that the leakage attenuation of Lg waves caused by large-angle forward scattering by random heterogeneities, which scatters the guided waves out of the trapped modes and leaking into the mantle, may contribute significantly to Lg attenuation and blockage in some regions. In the case of P-SV elastic screen propagators, plane wave reflection calculations have been incorporated into the elastic screen method to handle the free surface. Body waves, including the reflected and converted waves, can be calculated by real wavenumber integration; while surface waves (Rayleigh waves) can be obtained with imaginary wavenumber integration. Numerical tests proved the validity of the theory and methods.
Topics in Geometry

Hironaka’s great paper [HIR] carries out a program of Oskar Zariski initiated in [ZAR] to resolve the singularities of an algebraic variety. The idea is best captured with the following simple example.
A Review of Utopian Themes in Sustainable Development Discourse

Sustainable development is commonly traced to the ‘Bruntland Report’. However, its origins wind their way back through earlier UN conferences, 18th and 19th century political economic thought, Rousseauian ideals, the modernism founded on Bacon and Descartes, early Christian utopianism, and classical utopias such as Republic and New Atlantis, which expressed themes of social justice, environmental stewardship and economic growth. This article follows these utopian themes back through the history of sustainable development thought, relying on contemporary histories and reviews of the field as well as certain original texts. We also identify these threads within, and their impact upon, contemporary narratives and debates. We conclude with the suggestion that awareness of these discursive streams can assist in the effective use of the tools and concepts available for sustainable development efforts. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Polynomial Regression Approaches Using Derivative Information for Uncertainty Quantification

In this work we describe a polynomial regression approach that uses derivative information for analyzing the performance of a complex system that is described by a mathematical model depending on s...
Galactose Oxidase as a Model for Reactivity at a Copper Superoxide Center

The mononuclear copper enzyme, galactose oxidase, has been investigated under steady-state conditions via O2-consumption assays using 1-O-methyl-α-d-galactopyranoside as the sugar substrate to produce an aldehyde at the C-6 position. The rate-determining step of the oxidative half-reaction was probed through the measurement of substrate and solvent deuterium and O-18 isotope effects on kcat/Km(O2). The reaction conforms to a ping-pong mechanism with the kinetic parameters for the reductive half, kcat/Km(S) = 8.3 × 103 M−1 s−1 at 10 °C and pH 7.0, comparing favorably to literature values. The oxidative half-reaction yielded a value of kcat/Km(O2) = 2.5 × 106 M−1 s−1. A substrate deuterium isotope effect of 32 was measured for the kcat/Km(S), while a smaller, but significant value of 1.6−1.9 was observed on kcat/Km(O2). O-18 isotope effects of 1.0185 with either protiated or deuterated sugar, together with the absence of any solvent isotope effect, lead to the conclusion that hydrogen atom transfer from red...
Does child support support the children

To answer the question posed in the title, we shall review and summarize descriptive empirical evidence and discuss the policy implications for better support of children. First the paper develops a perspective on the information needed to evaluate the payment of child support. We take two approaches. We discuss the evidence needed to determine whether child support constitutes a serious social problem; for this, the adequacy and equity of support income are considered. Then we examine how an empirical analysis of the process by which a custodial parent obtains child support income might inform policies of public intervention. The support system is characterized as having stages, with the transitions between them providing opportunities for intervention.
A modified locally conformal finite-difference time-domain algorithm for modeling three-dimensional perfectly conducting objects

A stable conformal finite-difference time-domain algorithm, that incorporates the backward-weighted averaging scheme to accurately model curved metallic structures, is presented in this paper. The modified approach overcomes the size and shape limitations of the scheme that was proposed previously by the authors, and this improvement is achieved with a little increase in the complexity of the algorithm. The advantage of using the present scheme over the previous one is illustrated by carrying out a comparative study of the canonical problem of a spherical cavity resonator. Further usefulness of the method is exemplified by modeling a gap-coupled circular microstrip patch antenna. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 17: 349–352, 1998.
MENTAL ARITHMETIC IN AFRICA AND AMERICA: STRATEGIES, PRINCIPLES, AND EXPLANATIONS*

Abstract Mental arithmetic abilities were studied among unschooled African adults and American college students. A set of problems tested the use of the four basic arithmetic operations. Performance was analyzed for: strategies, implicit arithmetic principles, and explicit explanations of the principles. Both groups showed accurate mental arithmetic strategies related to the base ten structure of their native counting systems. The American students' mental strategies additionally made use of algorithms based on written place values. Several principles were implicit in the calculation strategies of both groups, and both used these principles to short-cut calculations. Though the African subjects did not, the American subjects did describe these abstract principles in explicit common language or algebraic expressions. Relationships between schooling and cognition axe discussed.
Lectins inhibit cell binding and spreading on a laminin substrate.

Summary This study examined the effects on cell binding and spreading of the exposure of laminin substrates to the lectins Wheat Germ Agglutinin or Concanavalin A. Exposure of laminin to Wheat Germ Agglutinin inhibited binding of mouse B16 F1 melanoma cells in a dose dependent manner. Exposure to Concanavalin A had no deleterious effects on binding but did inhibit cell spreading. Both effects were completely prevented by the specific sugars for each lectin. These effects may be due to the proximity of N-linked oligosaccharides to the known cell binding sites of laminin.
Crime and income distribution in a basketball economy

The impact of crime on the distribution of income has received little attention in the economics literature. In this paper we report some evidence that crime has a substantial impact on the distribution of income. Using time-series data on college basketball, which bears a close similarity to the national distribution of income in the USA, we find a significant association between the amount of crime in a basketball game, as proxied by the number of personal fouls, and the distribution of income, as measured by player-by-player scoring. Specifically, summary statistics of this income distribution, such as entropy and concentration ratios, are significantly associated with the number of fouls: more crime, more equal distribution of income. This result stands at variance with an earlier result of Ehrlich. Moreover, modeling fouls endogeneously does not alter this result and shows that crime and income distribution are jointly determined.
Strontium diffusion in sanidine and albite, and general comments on strontium diffusion in alkali feldspars

Abstract Strontium chemical diffusion has been measured in albite and sanidine under dry, 1 atm, and QFM buffered conditions. Strontium oxide-aluminosilicate powdered sources were used to introduce the diffusant and Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy (RBS) used to measure diffusion profiles. For the 1 atm experiments, the following Arrhenius relations were obtained: Sanidine ( O r 61 ) , temperature range 725 − 1075 ° C , diffusion normal to ( 001 ) : D = 8.4 exp ( − 450 ± 13 kJ mo l − 1 / RT ) m 2 s − 1 . Albite ( O r 1 ) , temperature range 675 − 1025 ° C , diffusion normal to ( 001 ) : D = 29 × 10 − 9 exp ( − 224 ± 11 kJ mo l − 1 / RT ) m 2 s − 1 . The alkali feldspars in this and earlier work display a broad range of activation energies for Sr diffusion, which may be a consequence of the thermodynamic non-ideality of the alkali feldspar system and/or the mixed alkali effect.
Low-power high-sensitivity spike detectors for implantable VLSI neural recording microsystems

A spike detector has become a necessity of a contemporary multichannel neural recording microsystem for data-compression. This paper proposes two spike detection algorithms, frequency-enhanced nonlinear energy operator (fNEO) and energy-of-derivative (ED), to solve the sensitivity degradation suffered by the conventional nonlinear energy operator (NEO) at the presence of large-amplitude baseline interferences. The efficiency of NEO, fNEO and ED algorithms are evaluated with Simulink programs firstly and then implemented into three low-power spike detectors with a standard 0.13- $$\mu m$$ μ m CMOS process. To achieve a low-power design, subthreshold CMOS analog multipliers, derivatives and adders are developed to work with a low supply voltage, 0.5 V. The power dissipation of the proposed fNEO spike detector and ED spike detector are only 258.7 and 129.4 nW, respectively. The quantitative investigation shown in the paper indicates that both fNEO and ED spike detectors achieves superior performance than the conventional NEO spike detector. Considering its lowest power dissipation, the ED spike detector is selected for our application. Further statistical evaluations based on the true positive and false positive detection rate proves that the ED spike detectors achieves higher detection rate than that of the conventional NEO spike detector but dissipates 48 % less power.
Arginine-binding RNAs resembling TAR identified by in vitro selection.

Specific binding of the human immunodeficiency virus Tat protein to its RNA site (TAR) is mediated largely by a single arginine residue located within a basic region of the protein. Many essential features of the interaction can be mimicked by the free amino acid arginine, and an NMR model has been proposed in which the arginine guanidinium group binds to a guanine base in the major groove and to two phosphates adjacent to a bulge, with the RNA structure stabilized by a base triple between a U in the bulge and an adjacent A:U base pair. To compare the TAR structure to other arginine-binding RNAs, we performed in vitro selection experiments and identified RNAs with arginine-binding affinities similar to TAR. About 40% of the selected RNAs contained the same motif found in TAR: two stems separated by a bulge of at least two nucleotides, a U at the 5‘ position of the bulge, and G:C and A:U base pairs above the bulge. In many cases, the upper stems contained only the G:C and A:U pairs, located next to small ...
Button-Pressing for a Time-off Reward during Sensory Deprivation: I. Relation to Activity Reward; II. Relation to Descriptions of Experience

Ss in sensory deprivation (S-D) were given the opportunity to button-press for a promised time-off reward. In one study, 10 Ss were in S-D for two 3-hr. sessions, exactly 1 wk. apart. During one se...
OPC-free on-grid fine random hole pattern formation utilizing double resist patterning with double RETs

A novel process of OPC-free on-grid fine random hole pattern formation is developed. Any random hole pattern with ~120nm diameter on 240 nm base grid can be printed by KrF exposure. In this technique, double resist patterning scheme is adopted. Dense hole pattern is delineated with first resist process. Quadrupole illumination is applied with embedded attenuating phase shift mask (EA-PSM) in imaging on this step. As is well known, fine dense hole pattern is formed with very large process latitude. After development of the first resist, hardening of the resist film by Ar ion implantation is carried out so as not to mix with second resist at second coating. This hardening process is very robust such that rework in second resist process can be performed with stripping the resist by a solvent. Then, second resist patterning is carried out. In the second exposure, cross-pole illumination is applied with high transmission EA-PSM. By this imaging, very fine dark spot image is generated. Resultantly, fine random pillar patterns, which plug an underlying hole, are formed in the second resist film. Because function of the pillar is plugging a hole, no precise CD control is required. Moreover, pattern connection between adjacent pillars does not cause any problem. Hence, no OPC is needed in the pillar formation, regardless of printed size variation of the pillars. Undesired holes in the dense holes are plugged by the pillars. As a result of the double resist patterning, on-grid random hole pattern is successfully delineated. Due to the robustness of each patterning process, very high process latitude is achieved. Off course, this technique can be carried out under any wavelength on regard of imaging. In other aspect, this technique utilizes only positive-tone resist. Hence, this technique can be applied with leading-edge ArF immersion lithography. As a conclusion, this technique is a promising candidate of hole pattern formation in 32nm era and beyond.
Detection of laurel wilt disease in avocado using low altitude aerial imaging.

Laurel wilt is a lethal disease of plants in the Lauraceae plant family, including avocado (Persea americana). This devastating disease has spread rapidly along the southeastern seaboard of the United States and has begun to affect commercial avocado production in Florida. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the potential to discriminate laurel wilt-affected avocado trees using aerial images taken with a modified camera during helicopter surveys at low-altitude in the commercial avocado production area. The ability to distinguish laurel wilt-affected trees from other factors that produce similar external symptoms was also studied. RmodGB digital values of healthy trees and laurel wilt-affected trees, as well as fruit stress and vines covering trees were used to calculate several vegetation indices (VIs), band ratios, and VI combinations. These indices were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and an M-statistic was performed in order to quantify the separability of those classes. Significant differences in spectral values among laurel wilt affected and healthy trees were observed in all vegetation indices calculated, although the best results were achieved with Excess Red (ExR), (Red–Green) and Combination 1 (COMB1) in all locations. B/G showed a very good potential for separate the other factors with symptoms similar to laurel wilt-affected trees, such as fruit stress and vines covering trees, from laurel wilt-affected trees. These consistent results prove the usefulness of using a modified camera (RmodGB) to discriminate laurel wilt-affected avocado trees from healthy trees, as well as from other factors that cause the same symptoms and suggest performing the classification in further research. According to our results, ExR and B/G should be utilized to develop an algorithm or decision rules to classify aerial images, since they showed the highest capacity to discriminate laurel wilt-affected trees. This methodology may allow the rapid detection of laurel wilt-affected trees using low altitude aerial images and be a valuable tool in mitigating this important threat to Florida avocado production.
Standardized patient in small group teaching: facilitating the small group

Small group teaching is used frequently in medical education to provide an opportunity for performance based instruction in problem-solving, communication, and team work. Principles used to help medical students learn to assess and manage their patients may be integrated into small groups for formative education. This article describes an application of a successful model of human simulation based interaction (standardized patients) to a clinical development program in a problem-based learning environment. Evidence of institutions using this methodology will be included in the discussion assessing the scope and practical application. Description of both faculty facilitator and learner roles in small group experiential learning settings with standardized patients will be provided, as well as a brief discussion of assessment techniques using both formative and summative feedback. This method uses scenarios derived from real case examples that are structured to provide common challenges. It uses trained standardized patients to portray patients and to give live and immediate feedback to learners. Live learner simulations give participants a true experiential learning opportunity in a classroom without risk of harming real patients. A realistic practice scenario allows learners to practice and receive valuable feedback from other learners, faculty and standardized patients. This article will describe one application of this method in medical education to teach students patient-centered communication. Keywords: Active learning; Curriculum, Problem-based; Experiential learning; Patient simulation; Education, Medical, Undergraduate. Revista HUPE, Rio de Janeiro, 2014;13(4):57-61 doi: 10.12957/rhupe.2014.13955
Oncology services for members of a national managed care company.

BACKGROUND. Oncology services in a managed care organization may be defined by the structure of the provider network, coverage policies, and specific health plan programs for oncology services. METHODS. The policies and programs of Aetna U.S. Healthcare were reviewed to illustrate the approach of a large, national health benefits company in the provision of oncology services to its members. RESULTS. Standard oncology services are provided by a network of independent participating providers, paid fee-for-service. There are no capitated arrangements for oncology services. The process is driven by the participating providers. For patients requiring bone marrow transplant or therapy available in few medical centers, precertification and case management are provided by the health plan, through the National Medical Excellence Unit. Criteria are used to select facilities for these services and global case rates are negotiated. In the health maintenance organization, educational material is distributed by the health plan to physicians and members to encourage the use of cancer screening services. In addition, reimbursement to primary care physicians can be enhanced by the screening rate for their members. The overall policy of Aetna U.S. Healthcare is to cover Phase II and III clinical trials. Coverage for Phase I trials or use of non-Food and Drug Administration approved drugs is based on reported safety and efficacy and participation in an academic program. CONCLUSIONS. Through arrangements with participating providers, dedicated support for transplant and rare cases, programs encouraging the use of cancer screening, and member-focused policies on coverage issues, managed care companies can provide complete oncology services to its membership.
Respiratory and cardiac self-gated free-breathing cardiac CINE imaging with multiecho 3D hybrid radial SSFP acquisition

A respiratory and cardiac self-gated free-breathing three-dimensional cine steady-state free precession imaging method using multiecho hybrid radial sampling is presented. Cartesian mapping of the k-space center along the slice encoding direction provides intensity-weighted position information, from which both respiratory and cardiac motions are derived. With in plan radial sampling acquired at every pulse repetition time, no extra scan time is required for sampling the k-space center. Temporal filtering based on density compensation is used for radial reconstruction to achieve high signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio. High correlation between the self-gating signals and external gating signals is demonstrated. This respiratory and cardiac self-gated, free-breathing, three-dimensional, radial cardiac cine imaging technique provides image quality comparable to that acquired with the multiple breath-hold two-dimensional Cartesian steady-state free precession technique in short-axis, four-chamber, and two-chamber orientations. Functional measurements from the three-dimensional cardiac short axis cine images are found to be comparable to those obtained using the standard two-dimensional technique.
Evaluation of probabilistic information processing in medical decision making

Abstract A Bayesian probabilistic information processing system (PIP) was compared, in field and laboratory tests, with four other forecasting methodologics. The influence of amount of information and conditional dependence of data on forecaster performance was investigated. PIP performed at least as well as any other technique in terms of magnitude of error and was superior to all techniques in terms of frequency of error. However PIP also required the most physician time per estimate.
Effects of Arbitrarily Placed Category Boundaries on Similarity Judgments

Abstract Three experiments examined the effects of arbitrarily placed boundaries on judged similarity between pairs of stimulus persons. Subjects in Experiments 1 and 2 rated the similarity of applicants for a job in which three category labels (Ideal, Acceptable, and Marginal) were superimposed on the composite scores of applicants based on measures relevant to job performance. The exact position of the category boundaries, described to the subjects as arbitrary, was varied across two conditions, allowing a comparison of a given pair of stimulus persons when the members of the pair were in the same category, or in different categories. Whereas the boundary positions were varied across subjects in Experiment 1, they were varied within subjects in Experiment 2. Subjects in both experiments rated pairs as more similar when in the same category than when on opposite sides of a category boundary. In Experiment 3, subjects rated pairs of movie actors on three scales assessing dispositional similarity, based upon the degree of the actor's political liberalism on a percentile scale. The presence of semantic labels, as well as visual boundary markers, was varied, and again confirmed the predicted effects of boundary markers. The presence of a no-categorization control indicated the presence of both intercategory accentuation and intracategory minimization. Moreover, actors separated by objectively large distanceswithina category were seen as more similar than actors objectively smaller distances apart but separated by a category boundary.
Calorimetric evidence for the microquasicrystalline structure of amorphous Al/transition metal alloys

The idea that a material exhibiting broad diffraction halos does not have a characteristic amorphous structure but is just an assembly of randomly orientated microcrystals is a remarkably resilient one. Invariably it is resurrected when a new type of amorphous material is discovered, only to be put aside in most cases in favour of a truly amorphous structure (one without any lattice periodicity). For fused silica and the amorphous elemental semiconductors, this structure is the continuous random network1; for the amorphous metals it is a dense random packing of hard spheres (see ref. 2; the strong short-range order in amorphous metals is explicitly taken into account in the 'stereochemically defined9 models described in ref. 3). Nonetheless, truly microcrys-talline materials do exist, and their diffraction patterns consist of broadened powder peaks4. Here we show that these microcrystalline materials can be identified unambiguously by the characteristic isothermal calorimetric signal associated with their transformation to a large-grained material, and we use this test to demonstrate that two sputtered "amorphous' aluminum/transition metal alloys have a micro-quasicrystalline structure.
Histochemical detection of glycogen usingGriffonia simplicifolia agglutinin II

The utility of a lectin fromGriffonia simplicifolia (GSA II) for demonstrating glycogenin situ was tested on fixed paraffin-embedded sections of a variety of tissues from rodents and man. The histochemical specificity of GSA II conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (GSA II—HRP) for glycogen was documented by the lability of such staining on adjacent sections treated with either malt diastase orα-amylase. In some tissue sites, the lectin—HRP conjugate imparted cytoplasmic staining that was diastase- and amylase-labile but resisted digestion withN-acetylglucosaminidase. Reactivity in the latter sites was attributed to glycogen and occurred in cell types having well-documented glycogen content, including liver hepatocytes, skeletal muscle fibres and polymorphonuclear leukocytes. In other tissue loci, GSA II binding was confined to cell surfaces or intracellular compartments, was not affected by prior diastase or amylase digestion, but was abolished withN-acetylglucosaminidase. Staining in these sites was attributed not to glycogen, but instead to glycoconjugate having sugar chains terminated withN-acetylglucosamine. These findings document the affinity of GSA II for glycogenin situ but do not conflict with the biochemically demonstrated affinity of GSA II for terminalN-acetylglucosamine. The results reported here show that the GSA II—HRP method may be useful for detecting physiological or pathological changes in the glycogen content of cells.
The Environmental Fate and Mechanism of Formation of 2-Ethyl-5,5′-Dimethyl-1,3-Dioxane (2EDD) – a Malodorous Contaminant in Drinking Water

A malodorous chemical, 2-ethyl-5,5′-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane (2EDD) created a drinking water taste and odor episode in Pennsylvania (USA) during 1992. The odor episode occurred as the result of a reaction between propionaldehyde and neopentyl glycol in the waste tank of a resin manufacturer. Samples of this waste water were extracted and analyzed. An in situ aqueous preparation of 2EDD was completed to demonstrate that 2EDD could have formed under the conditions found in the waste water. The stability (fate) of 2EDD was studied at different aqueous pHs (pH3, 5, 7, and 9). Some hydrolysis of 2EDD was found at pHs
The radar scattering characteristics of Venus landforms

Nine geologic units are identified in a recently published Arecibo image of the Venus equatorial region (Campbell, et al., 1990). A detailed examination of the radar scattering properties of these units using data from the imaging mode of the Pioneer Venus Radar Mapper (PVM) shows them to fall into three distinct classes: (1) dark plains; (2) tessera, narrow-spaced parallel lineaments, and bright and dark banded terrain;, and (3) bright plains, mottled plains, ovoids, lineament belts, and edifices. Additional units interpreted to be analogous to those mapped from the Arecibo data are identified in the region imaged exclusively by PVM, and are found to have similar scattering properties. An examination of the scattering properties of units mapped as tessera - Tellus Regio and eastern Beta Regio, as compared with the northern flanks of Thetis Regio - leads to the conclusion that part of Thetis possesses characteristics similar to Tellus.
Classical Topology and Quantum Statistics

We review the theory of statistics of identical systems in terms of the properties of the classical configuration space. Special emphasis is placed on the influence of the connectivity of this space on quantum statistics. The theory shows that exotic statistical systems, such as those obeying fractional statistics, can occur in all dimensions. Particle statistics in one dimension involves novel features particular to this dimension and these are briefly described. The proof of a topological spin-statistics theorem which avoids field theory or relativity is also outlined.
Metallosis and Metal-induced synovitis following total knee arthroplasty: Review of Radiographic and CT Findings

Metallosis and metal-induced synovitis are well-recognized complications of metal-backed polyethylene joint prostheses and have been frequently described in the orthopedic surgery literature; however, relatively fewer articles discussing the radiologic aspects of this complication have been published. To illustrate the importance of radiologic findings in the diagnosis and management of these patients, we present a case of metallosis and metal-induced synovitis complicating two revisions of a total knee arthroplasty, caused by polyethylene liner wear and dissociation of the polyethylene liner from the metal-backed patellar prosthesis. Specific attention is given to reviewing signs that aid in diagnosis, such as the "bubble sign," "cloud sign," and "metal-line signs."
Prostaglandin E and cancer Growth

This paper reviews the evidence linking prostaglandin E (PGE) with the growth of neoplastic tissue. PGE 2 is present in high concentrations in many natural and experimentally produced cancers. The immunosuppressive effect of some tumors in mice is due at least in part to a prostaglandin mechanism. The growth of these same tumors can be slowed and in some cases the tumor eliminated by administration of PG synthetase inhibitors. It is not yet clear whether the antitumor properties of these PG synthetase inhibitors are due to their releasing the hostimmune system from the chronic prostaglandin-mediated suppression of the tumor, resulting in an effective immune response to the tumor, or whether another mechanism is responsible. In humans overproduction of PGE 2 by macrophages is partly responsible for the depressed PHA response in patients with Hodgkin's disease.
The case for narrow listening

Abstract In narrow listening, acquirers collect several brief tape-recordings of proficient speakers discussing a topic selected by the acquirer. Acquirers then listen to the tape as many times as they like, at their leisure. Repeated listening, interest in the topic, and familiar context help make the input comprehensible. Topics are gradually changed, which allows the acquirer to expand his or her competence comfortably. Narrow listening is a low-tech, inexpensive, and pleasant way to obtain comprehensible input, and is also an easy way to get to know speakers of other languages.
Estimating Storm-Induced Dune Erosion and Overtopping along U.S. West Coast Beaches

ABSTRACT Mull, J. and Ruggiero, P., 2014. Estimating storm-induced dune erosion and overtopping along U.S. West Coast beaches. Coastal foredunes protect lives, infrastructure, and ecosystems during severe storms. A range of approaches, ranging from simple (e.g., geometric) to complex (e.g., process based) predictive models, have been developed to quantify overtopping and foredune retreat during storms. At present, however, there is no widely accepted approach for assessing the vulnerability of coastal foredunes to erosion and overtopping hazards. Because different coastal regions have distinct storm and geomorphic characteristics, models need to be assessed and possibly adapted before they can be successfully applied to each unique region. In this study we apply a total water level (TWL) model and three simple foredune erosion models and assess their suitability for U.S. West Coast vulnerability analyses. The erosion models include a geometric model, an equilibrium profile model, and a wave impact model. ...
Proportion of episodic memories from early childhood by years of age

Two experiments involving search through very long-term memory were conducted using Galton’s method of semantic cuing. In the first experiment, 155 college students were asked to recall specific memories from their childhood associated with each of 12 English nouns. In Experiment II, 44 college students recalled 10-15 specific memories from their childhoods associated with a single cue noun. Students in both experiments then gave the age they were when each of the events had occurred. The proportion of memories from the years of early childhood thus obtained were compared to published data (Waldfogel, 1948) in which college students had been asked to recall and date all memories from before the age of 8. The results were similar across the three studies, suggesting that the method of semantic cuing may be explored as an alternative to exhaustive free recall in attempts to measure the store of long-term episodic memory.
Ultrafast Dynamics of Chlorine Dioxide Photochemistry in Water Studied by Femtosecond Transient Absorption Spectroscopy

The ultrafast dynamics of chlorine dioxide (OClO) photochemistry in aqueous solution was studied by femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. Following the photoexcitation of OClO at 395 nm, the transient absorption dynamics were probed at 12 different wavelengths ranging from 350 to 700 nm. The transient absorption features observed in the visible wavelengths are assigned to correspond to the vibrationally hot photoisomer ClOO*. The spectral dynamics reveal the vibrational relaxation of this molecule in its ground electronic state. The total vibrational energy relaxation occurs within ∼9 ps. The dynamics of the formation of chlorine atom was examined by measuring the absorption dynamics in the 350−390 nm range. The time constant for Cl formation is calculated to be ∼200 ps. The data show that the dominant pathway for Cl formation is via the isomerized ClOO molecule. No fast component for Cl is detected, indicating that the ClOO molecule reaches thermal equilibrium before dissociating into Cl and O2.
Vortex kinetics of conserved and nonconserved O(n) models

We study the motion of vortices in the conserved and nonconserved phase-ordering models. We give an analytical method for computing the speed and position distribution functions for pairs of annihilating point vortices based on heuristic scaling arguments. In the nonconserved case this method produces a speed distribution function consistent with previous analytic results. As two special examples, we simulate numerically the conserved and nonconserved $\mathrm{O}(2)$ model in two-dimensional space. The numerical results for the nonconserved case are consistent with the theoretical predictions. The speed distribution of the vortices in the conserved case is measured. Our theory produces a distribution function with the correct large speed tail but does not accurately describe the numerical data at small speeds. The position distribution functions for both models are measured and we find good agreement with our analytic results. We are also able to extend this method to models with a scalar order parameter.
Aiming for certainty: the Kanun, blood feuds and the ascertainment of customary law

Customary law is an alternative legal framework to statute or public law. In the past, the existence of customary law was viewed as problematic due to the uncertainty which accompanies legal pluralism. Increasingly, scholars are recognizing legal pluralism as simply a reality to be negotiated, rather than a problem. One frequently proposed solution to the difficulties posed by the existence of customary law is to write it down, or ascertain it, in order to provide for legal certainty. This article addresses this goal in three parts. The first part describes customary law and how it functions in its uncodified form in post-colonial settings, specifically in Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia. While customary law thrived under colonization, it merely survived socialism where it was often explicitly undermined. The second part of the article details the reasons why scholars and public officials have often suggested writing customary law down as a solution, and situates these arguments within the contempora...
Removal policies in network caches for World-Wide Web documents

World-Wide Web proxy servers that cache documents can potentially reduce three quantities: the number of requests that reach popular servers, the volume of network traffic resulting from document requests, and the latency that an end-user experiences in retrieving a document. This paper examines the first two using the measures of cache hit rate and weighted hit rate (or fraction of client-requested bytes returned by the proxy). A client request for an uncached document may cause the removal of one or more cached documents. Variable document sizes and types allow a rich variety of policies to select a document for removal, in contrast to policies for CPU caches or demand paging, that manage homogeneous objects. We present a taxonomy of removal policies. Through trace-driven simulation, we determine the maximum possible hit rate and weighted hit rate that a cache could ever achieve, and the removal policy that maximizes hit rate and weighted hit rate. The experiments use five traces of 37 to 185 days of client URL requests. Surprisingly, the criteria used by several proxy-server removal policies (LRU, Hyper-G, and a proposal by Pitkow and Recker) are among the worst performing criteria in our simulation; instead, replacing documents based on size maximizes hit rate in each of the studied workloads.