cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prior Activities and Progress in MBA Programs.

Many graduate business programs encourage, and even require, postbaccalaureate work experience as a criterion for program admission. In this research we use data from the National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972 to examine the extent to which MBA students actually experience a hiatus in their educational careers, and whether their work/education profiles differ from those of other graduate students in the United States. We also address whether this emphasis on educational discontinuity in the formal sense has any effect on how the student progresses through the MBA program. Our results suggest that interrupting school between the BA and MBA leads to a higher likelihood of part-time enrollment, and a consequent lower probability of completing the degree program in a timely fashion.
EFFECT OF GLAZE FILM ON PROPERTIES OF A VITREOUS CHINA BODY

Individual thermal-expansion measurements in conjunction with the tuning fork and ring glaze-fit tests have been used to establish the relation between glaze stress and its effect on the physical properties of a glazed vitreous body.
Reexamining lepton pairs at ultrarelativistic energies

We confirm the importance of standard medium effects (hadronic rescattering) in heavy-ion collisions by using a perturbative-QCD-motivated hadronic model to investigate the dilepton spectra from $\mathrm{Pb}+\mathrm{Au}$ collisions at 158 GeV/nucleon. These same effects, namely, prompt $\ensuremath{\pi}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\ensuremath{\rho}}\ensuremath{\pi}{e}^{+}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}$, have been studied in several CERN SPS systems [J. Murray, W. Bauer, and K. Haglin, Phys. Rev. C 57, 882 (1998)]. The results presented here are consistent with previous studies stating that this type of rescattering effect explains a portion of the ``excess'' lepton pairs seen by the CERES experiment, but not the entire effect.
Relationship of biopsy and final specimens in evaluation of tumor thickness in floor of mouth carcinoma

A number of studies have suggested that tumor thickness may be a valuable prognostic indicator in the evaluation of head and neck cancers. This study examined the relationship between tumor thickness measured in preliminary biopsy specimens with the final specimens obtained in 31 patients with floor of mouth epidermoid carcinoma. There was a significant statistical correlation between biopsy and final specimens. The Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient was 0.58, which corresponded to a significance level of P < .0005. The results of this study showed that those patients who had biopsies with a thickness less than or equal to 1 mm were likely to have final specimens with a thickness less than 2 mm. All patients with a thickness greater than 2 mm had a final specimen with a thickness greater than 3.5 mm. Modification of current biopsy techniques may result in values more predictive of final thickness measurements.
Peer-based communication for a distributed, virtual Traffic Management Center

In an effort to monitor and alleviate roadway traffic conditions, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) has deployed a statewide Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) architecture consisting of a large number of devices, including cameras, dynamic message signs, and speed sensors along Oklahoma highways. These devices are connected throughout a private ITS fiber-optic network to controlling stations located at stakeholder agencies statewide, forming a virtual Traffic Management Center (TMC). This decentralized approach allows individual consoles on the virtual TMC to display and control reachable devices even if portions of the network become disconnected. Enabling this fault-tolerant design is a novel peer-based communications protocol. The communication system is dynamically configured and automatically resolves communications regardless of network configuration. This paper introduces this robust peer-based approach and describes its implementation within the Oklahoma virtual TMC. Results of this implementation of the system are also presented.
Acute toxicity of boron, titanium dioxide, and aluminum nanoparticles to Daphnia magna and Vibrio fischeri

The acute toxicity of four different nanosized particulate materials (titanium dioxide, boron nanoparticles, and two types of aluminum nanoparticles (ALEX and L-ALEX)) were evaluated using two tests: the Microtox toxicity test and the acute toxicity test with Daphnia magna. The results were analyzed in order to calculate LD50 at 24 and 48 h. It was found that titanium dioxide nanoparticles show a low level of toxicity, and LD50 values cannot be calculated. Conversely, boron nanoparticles with EC50 ranging from 56 to 66 mg L−1, depending upon the age of the solution, can be classified as ‘‘harmful’’ to aquatic microorganisms (EC50 in the range 10–100 mg L−1). We have also discussed possible mechanisms of nanoparticle toxicity and potential problems in ecotoxicological testing of nanomaterials. The studied nanomaterials can be ranked in the following order according to their Daphnia acute toxicity: boron nanoparticles>ALEX>L-ALEX> TiO2.
How robust are protein folding simulations with respect to force field parameterization

Molecular dynamics simulations hold the promise of providing an atomic-level description of protein folding that cannot easily be obtained from experiments. Here, we examine the extent to which the molecular mechanics force field used in such simulations might influence the observed folding pathways. To that end, we performed equilibrium simulations of a fast-folding variant of the villin headpiece using four different force fields. In each simulation, we observed a large number of transitions between the unfolded and folded states, and in all four cases, both the rate of folding and the structure of the native state were in good agreement with experiments. We found, however, that the folding mechanism and the properties of the unfolded state depend substantially on the choice of force field. We thus conclude that although it is important to match a single, experimentally determined structure and folding rate, this does not ensure that a given simulation will provide a unique and correct description of the full free-energy surface and the mechanism of folding.
Complexes of nonpositive curvature for extensions of F2 by Z

Abstract For any extension G of F 2 by Z , which is not virtually a direct product of the two factors, we construct a 2-complex of nonpositive curvature with fundamental group G . As a corollary we obtain a new proof of the fact that any such extension has an automatic structure.
Pilot fMRI investigation of representational plasticity associated with motor skill learning and its functional consequences

Complex skill learning at a joint initiates competition between its representation in the primary motor cortex (M1) and that of the neighboring untrained joint. This process of representational plasticity has been mapped by cortically-evoking simple movements. We investigated, following skill learning at a joint, 1) whether comparable processes of representational plasticity are observed when mapping is based on volitionally produced complex movements and 2) the consequence on the skill of the adjacent untrained joint. Twenty-four healthy subjects were assigned to either finger- or elbow-skill training or no-training control group. At pretest and posttest, subjects performed complex skill movements at finger, elbow and ankle concurrent with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to define learning and allow mapping of corresponding activation-based representations in M1. Skill following both finger- and elbow- training transferred to the ankle (remote joint) (p = 0.05 and 0.05); however, finger training did not transfer to the elbow and elbow training did not transfer to the finger. Following finger training, location of the trained finger representation showed a trend (p = 0.08) for medial shift towards the representation of adjacent untrained elbow joint; the change in intensity of the latter representation was associated with elbow skill (Spearman’s ρ = −0.71, p = 0.07). Following elbow training, the trained elbow representation and the adjacent untrained finger representation increased their overlap (p = 0.02), which was associated with finger skill (Spearman’s ρ = −0.83, p = 0.04). Thus, our pilot study reveals comparable processes of representational plasticity with fMRI mapping of complex skill movements as have been demonstrated with cortically-evoked methods. Importantly, these processes may limit the degree of transfer of skill between trained and adjacent untrained joints. These pilot findings that await confirmation in large-scale studies have significant implications for neuro-rehabilitation. For instance, techniques, such as motor cortical stimulation, that can potentially modulate processes of representational plasticity between trained and adjacent untrained representations, may optimize transfer of skill.
Biogeochemical Evolution of Domestic Waste Water in Septic Systems: 2. Application of Conceptual Model in Sandy Aquifers

Aqueous geochemical data from unconfined sand aquifers beneath two operating domestic septic systems are used to illustrate and evaluate a conceptual model of septic-system geochemistry. This model emphasizes the changing redox and alkalinity conditions in the septic system and the subsurface. The septic-tank effluents flow as distinct plumes downward through the unsaturated zones and then primarily laterally in the ground-water zones. The composition of the effluent was measured at several points in each system. At each site, the septic-tank effluent underwent aerobic oxidation in the unsaturated zone, which caused conversion of NH4+ to NO3−, organic C to CO2 and organic S to SCh42-. At the first site, calcium carbonate dissolution in the unsaturated zone buffered the acidity released by the redox reactions. In contrast, the second system was poorly buffered and the pH dropped from 6.7 to 4.9 as aerobic oxidation occurred. Below the water table a small amount of aerobic oxidation occurred at each site. Nitrate-N concentrations in the cores of both plumes were above 25 mg/1 as the plumes traveled from the septic systems. At the second site, the ground-water plume discharges to a river at the edge of the property. As the effluent flowed through the organic C-rich sediments of the river bed, NO3− disappeared and alkalinity increased, presumably due to denitrification. Differences in sediment composition at the two sites also led to different behaviors of Fe, Al, and possibly PO43-. The conceptual model offers an organized approach to interpreting the major geochemical trends observed in the two systems, which are determined mostly by the well-aerated unsaturated zones below the drain fields and the amount of buffering material present in the sediments.
C-reactive protein and rate of dementia in carriers and non carriers of Apolipoprotein APOE4 genotype

Abstract Background Those with an Apolipoprotein APOE4 allele (APOE4) have lower C-reactive protein (CRP) than those without APOE4. Whether APOE4 modifies the effects of CRP on rate of all cause dementia, cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease (AD) is not established. Methods All cause dementia and cognitive impairment without dementia (CIND) was determined over five follow up visits from 1998 to 2006 in an ongoing cohort of older Latinos. The association between high sensitivity CRP and dementia/CIND, all cause dementia and Alzheimer's disease by APOE4 status was examined in semi-parametric survival models with covariate adjustments. Results CRP was significantly lower among those with APOE4 than in those without. Among those with APOE4, CRP was associated with lower rates of combined dementia/CIND (HR: 0.60, 95% CL: 0.20–0.91, p = 0.03) from a fully adjusted model. Among those with no APOE4, there was no effect of CRP on dementia/CIND rates (HR: 0.94, 95% CL: 0.67–1.33). Conclusions Lower CRP in those with APOE4 may reflect immune effects of the APOE4 genotype. Higher CRP in those with APOE4 may be a marker of better immune function, leading to lower rate of dementia and AD.
Functional reactive animation

Fran (Functional Reactive Animation) is a collection of data types and functions for composing richly interactive, multimedia animations. The key ideas in Fran are its notions of behaviors and events. Behaviors are time-varying, reactive values, while events are sets of arbitrarily complex conditions, carrying possibly rich information. Most traditional values can be treated as behaviors, and when images are thus treated, they become animations. Although these notions are captured as data types rather than a programming language, we provide them with a denotational semantics, including a proper treatment of real time, to guide reasoning and implementation. A method to effectively and efficiently perform event detection using interval analysis is also described, which relies on the partial information structure on the domain of event times. Fran has been implemented in Hugs, yielding surprisingly good performance for an interpreter-based system. Several examples are given, including the ability to describe physical phenomena involving gravity, springs, velocity, acceleration, etc. using ordinary differential equations.
Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography of coronary artery fistulas

Abstract Coronary artery fistula is a rare abnorm lity but one with substantial surgical importance, as operation abolishes the fistulous shunt volume, progressive coronary dilatation, and potential coronary steal. Prior reports emphasize the utility of direct inspection on cardiopulmonary bypass, with visualization of drainage of blood or cardioplegia from the fistulous connection, to define the drainage site. We report 3 patients in whom intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography was used for precise localization of the fistulous drainage site, selective demonstration of vessels feeding the fistulas, and documentation of abolition of fistuloua flow, all without need for cardiopulmonary bypass. In addition, the technique provides for continuous monitoring of ventricular function, providing the opportunity to detect inadvertent ischemic effects of ligation. This approach appears to have considerable utility.
Nuclear Import Is Required for the Pro-apoptotic Function of the Golgi Protein p115

During apoptosis the Golgi apparatus undergoes irreversible fragmentation. In part, this results from caspase-mediated cleavage of several high molecular weight coiled-coil proteins, termed golgins. These include GM130, golgin 160, and the Golgi vesicle tethering protein p115, whose caspase cleavage generates a C-terminal fragment (CTF) of 205 residues. Here we demonstrate that early during apoptosis, following the rapid cleavage of p115, endogenous CTF translocated to the cell nucleus and its nuclear import was required to enhance the apoptotic response. Expression of a series of deletion constructs identified a putative α-helical region of 26 amino acids, whose expression alone was sufficient to induce apoptosis; deletion of these 26 residues from the CTF diminished its proapoptotic activity. This region contains several potential SUMOylation sites and co-expression of SUMO together with the SUMO ligase, UBC9, resulted in SUMOylation of the p115 CTF. Significantly, when cells were treated with drugs that induce apoptosis, SUMOylation enhanced the efficiency of p115 cleavage and the kinetics of apoptosis. A construct in which a nuclear export signal was fused to the N terminus of p115 CTF accumulated in the cytoplasm and surprisingly, its expression did not induce apoptosis. In contrast, treatment of cells expressing this chimera with the antibiotic leptomycin induced its translocation into the nucleus and resulted in the concomitant induction of apoptosis. These results demonstrate that nuclear import of the p115 CTF is required for it to stimulate the apoptotic response and suggest that its mode of action is confined to the nucleus.
Femtosecond dynamics of microscopic friction: nature of coherent versus diffusive motion from gas to liquid density

With femtosecond resolution, we have observed in real time the progressive effect of solvent friction on rotational motion for a well-defined solute in solvents from gas to liquid densities. A quantitative model, J-coherence, of the microscopic interaction of solvent and solute, based on binary-collision angular-momentum transfer, has been used over the entire density range to describe microscopic friction. The limiting behavior at high density of the friction coefficient is compared with the prediction of the stochastic Langevin equation and with the continuum hydrodynamic model. The clear resolution of the coherent, inertial and diffusive motion allows for a description of the transition from the gas to liquid density regime at the molecular level.
Refining Emergency Severity Index triage criteria.

Objectives The Emergency Severity Index (ESI) version 3 is a five-level triage acuity scale with demonstrated reliability and validity. Patients are rated from ESI level 1 (highest acuity) to ESI level 5 (lowest acuity). Clinical experience has demonstrated two levels of ESI level 2 patients: those who require immediate intervention and those who are stable to wait for at least ten minutes. Studies have found that few patients are rated ESI level 1, and it has been suggested that revisions to the ESI might result in appropriate reclassification of some sickest level 2 patients as level 1. The purpose of this study was to identify level 2 patients who might be reclassified as level 1 patients. Methods This was a multisite, prospective study. The authors identified ESI level 2 patients who required immediate, lifesaving intervention and calculated chi-square statistics and odds ratios for variables that predicted which ESI level 2 patients actually received immediate intervention. Results Immediate lifesaving interventions were provided for 117 (20.2%) of the 589 patients included in the study. Seventeen predictors of the need for immediate intervention were identified. The strongest predictor was the triage nurse's judgment of the need for immediate intervention, especially airway and medications. Conclusions Specific clinical findings at triage for a subset of ESI level 2 patients were associated with immediate delivery of lifesaving interventions. Revisions to the ESI level 1 criteria may be beneficial.
The Utility and Cost Effectiveness of Voice Recognition Technology in Surgical Pathology

Voice recognition (VR) technology in computer systems converts speech directly into electronic text. In pathology, VR holds promise to improve efficiency and to reduce transcription delays and costs. We investigated the utility and cost effectiveness of targeted VR deployment in surgical pathology. A VR system was deployed for entry of gross descriptions of biopsies and of low to moderate complexity specimens and for entry of final reports for specimens not requiring microscopic analysis. Templates for VR were developed for all reports. Free-text speech entry was used to enter information not covered by templates. Voice converted to text by VR crossed over an interface into the anatomic pathology laboratory information system. Tallies were kept of whether individual specimens were entered by VR or by conventional dictation. A computer program was written to analyze the number of lines of text entered through VR. Cost savings were calculated based on per-line transcription costs from an outside agency. Over 18 months, gross descriptions for an average of 5617 specimens per month were entered via VR, corresponding to 70% of all gross specimens processed by the laboratory. A mean of 106 gross-only final reports per month was entered through VR. VR facilitated same-day processing of specimens received after the previous day processing cutoff time (average 35 specimens per day). VR generated an average of 23,864 lines of text per month, translating to $2625 savings per month. Estimated payback period for VRT as implemented is 1.9 years. The use of VR for gross descriptions of biopsies and low to moderate complexity specimens and for gross-only final reports in surgical pathology facilitates data entry, reduces transcription costs, and contributes to improved turnaround time. Development of templates is important to successful implementation of VR in surgical pathology.
THE USE OF RISK ANALYSIS IN FEDERAL REGULATORY AGENCIES: AN EXPLORATION1

This paper reports on an exploratory study of the role of risk analysis in seven federal agencies concerned with health, safety, and environmental regulation. Interviews with key decision-makers suggest that the use of risk analysis has increased in recent years, but that its employment in risk-management decision making varies considerably both within given agencies and across agencies and policy areas. Despite methodological and institutional constraints, risk analysis is likely to play a greater role in the future as demands for comparative assessment of technological risks increase. 16 references.
Physiochemical properties of porous media (rocks) after being drilled using high-power lasers: analytical techniques

The focus of this paper will be on the analytical techniques used to study laser/rock destruction. High-power COIL, CO2, and Nd:YAG lasers were used to drill holes, melt, crack, and vaporize rock samples. Rock types used in the research include: surface sandstones, reservoir sandstones, surface shale, reservoir shale, surface limestone and dolomite, and granite. Physical and chemical properties of the unlased and lased rocks are analyzed. X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) is used to determine rock chemistry while carbon content is determined by a coulometer. Permeability is determined by the Pressure-Decay Profile Permeameter (PDPK), and Computerized Tomography (CT) imaging is used to calculate the volume of material removed by laser and pixel porosity and density around the lased holes. Thermal properties, such as endothermic and exothermic reactions, clay disassociation, and melting temperatures, are determined using Simultaneous Thermal Analysis (STA). Scanning Electron Microscope with Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (SEM-EDS) is used to map laser-induced fractures and mineralogical transformations. Mineral assemblages, rock texture, and average porosity are determined using petrographic thin sections.© (2004) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Reactions of U+ and UO+ with O2, CO, CO2, COS, CS2 and D2O

Abstract An ion-beam apparatus has been employed to investigate the reactions of uranium ions and uranium monoxide ions with O 2 , CO, CO 2 , COS, CS 2 and D 2 O. Reaction cross sections as a function of ion kinetic energy are determined and compared to simple models for exothermic and endothermic reactions. With two exceptions, all exothermic reactions exhibit large cross sections which decrease with increasing kinetic energy. Although expected to be exothermic, the reactions of UO + with CO 2 and COS to form UO + 2 exhibit substantial energy barriers. Uranium ions react with CO to yield both UO + and UC + in endothermic processes. The thresholds for these reactions agree well with literature thermochemistry.
Multiple evidence combination in image retrieval: Diogenes searches for people on the Web

In this work, we examine evidence combination mechanisms for classifying multimedia information. In particular, we examine linear and Dempster-Shafer methods of evidence combination in the context of identifying personal images on the World Wide Web. An automatic web search engine named Diogenes1 searches the web for personal images and combines different pieces of evidence for identification. The sources of evidence consist of input from face detection/recognition and text/HTML analysis modules. A degree of uncertainty is involved with both of these sources. Diogenes automatically determines the uncertainty locally for each retrieval and uses this information to set a relative significance for each evidence. To our knowledge, Diogenes is the first image search engine using Dempster-Shafer evidence combination based on automatic object recognition and dynamic local uncertainty assessment. In our experiments Diogenes comfortably outperformed some well known commercial and research prototype image search engines for celebrity image queries.
Branded Products in Service Encounters: An Information Integration Model of Consumer Evaluations and Intentions

This article investigates the effects of branded products in service encounters on consumer evaluations, drawing from information integration and categorization theories. A conceptual model illustrates that the quality of a product brand will have significant effects on the attitude toward and purchase intentions of the service brand. Such effects are moderated by the quality of the service brand. However, service brand attributes will not have the same effect on component product brands included in the performance of that service. An experimental study provides empirical support for the relationships hypothesized by the conceptual model.
Real‐time user interest modeling for real‐time ranking

User interest as a very dynamic information need is often ignored in most existing information retrieval systems. In this research, we present the results of experiments designed to evaluate the performance of a real-time interest model (RIM) that attempts to identify the dynamic and changing query level interests regarding social media outputs. Unlike most existing ranking methods, our ranking approach targets calculation of the probability that user interest in the content of the document is subject to very dynamic user interest change. We describe 2 formulations of the model (real-time interest vector space and real-time interest language model) stemming from classical relevance ranking methods and develop a novel methodology for evaluating the performance of RIM using Amazon Mechanical Turk to collect (interest-based) relevance judgments on a daily basis. Our results show that the model usually, although not always, performs better than baseline results obtained from commercial web search engines. We identify factors that affect RIM performance and outline plans for future research.
Motivation as a Lens to Understand Online Learners: Toward Data-Driven Design with the OLEI Scale

Open online learning environments attract an audience with diverse motivations who interact with structured courses in several ways. To systematically describe the motivations of these learners, we developed the Online Learning Enrollment Intentions (OLEI) scale, a 13-item questionnaire derived from open-ended responses to capture learners' authentic perspectives. Although motivations varied across courses, we found that each motivation predicted key behavioral outcomes for learners (N = 71, 475 across 14 courses).From learners' motivational and behavioral patterns, we infer a variety of needs that they seek to gratify by engaging with the courses, such as meeting new people and learning English. To meet these needs, we propose multiple design directions, including virtual social spaces outside any particular course, improved support for local groups of learners, and modularization to promote accessibility and organization of course content. Motivations thus provide a lens for understanding online learners and designing online courses to better support their needs.
Study of the effect of calcium supplementation during pregnancy on the risk of preterm birth or low birthweight infants is inconclusive

Commentary on: P Buppasiri, P Lumbiganon, J Thinkhamrop, et al.. Calcium supplementation (other than for preventing or treating hyperttension) for improving pregnancy and infant outcomes.Cochrane Database Syst Rev2011:CD007079.
Telomeres of the linear chromosomes of Lyme disease spirochaetes: nucleotide sequence and possible exchange with linear plasmid telomeres

Bacteria of the spirochaete genus Borrelia have linear chromosomes about 950 kbp in size. We report here that these linear chromosomes have covalently closed hairpin structures at their termini that are similar but not identical to those reported for linear plasmids carried by these organisms. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the chromosomal telomeric regions indicates that unique, apparently functional genes lie within a few hundred bp of each of the telomeres, and that there is an imperfect 26 bp inverted repeat at the two telomeres. In addition, we characterize a major chromosomal length polymorphism within the right telomeric regions of various Borrelia isolates, and show that sequences similar to those near the right telomere are often found on linear plasmids in B. burgdorferi (sensu stricto) isolates from nature. Sequences similar to a number of other regions of the chromosome, including those near the left telomere, were not found on B. burgdorferi plasmids. These observations suggest that there has been historical exchange of genetic information between the linear plasmids and the right end of the linear chromosome.
Maternal Sensitivity and the Learning-Promoting Effects of Depressed and Nondepressed Mothers' Infant-Directed Speech

The hypothesis that aspects of current mother–infant interactions predict an infant's response to maternal infant-directed speech (IDS) was tested. Relative to infants of nondepressed mothers, those of depressed mothers acquired weaker voice–face associations in response to their own mothers' IDS in a conditioned-attention paradigm, although this was partially attributable to demographic differences between the 2 groups. The extent of fundamental frequency modulation (ΔF0 ) in maternal IDS was smaller for infants of depressed than nondepressed mothers, but did not predict infant learning. However, Emotional Availability Scale ratings of maternal sensitivity, coded from videotapes of mothers and infants engaged in a brief play interaction, were significant predictors of infant learning, even after maternal depression, its demographic correlates, and antidepressant medication use had been taken into account. These findings are consistent with a role for experience-dependent processes in determining the effe...
Automated Classification of Urban Areas for Storm Water Management Using Aerial Photography and LiDAR

AbstractDuring urbanization, undisturbed land surfaces are altered to create manufactured landscapes. Classifications of these new urban surfaces are utilized in urban planning, environmental monitoring, and other applications such as storm water management and roof runoff harvesting system design. To evaluate runoff volume and design storm water control devices, areas of different urban surfaces need to be identified and defined as pervious (e.g., undisturbed soils and landscaped areas) and impervious surfaces (e.g., roofs, roads, parking lots, sidewalks, driveways). This study presents a means to facilitate urban surface classification and quantification by analyzing high resolution aerial photographs in conjunction with light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data in a custom application for the geographic information system software. This software processes aerial photographs using red/green/blue (RGB) bands to produce a raster with saturation (S) values. In parallel, LiDAR data are used to distinguish th...
Racial Differences in Diffusion of Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy for Localized Prostate Cancer.

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), an innovative treatment option for prostate cancer, has rapidly diffused over the past decade. To inform our understanding of racial disparities in pro...
When He Doesn’t Mean You: Gender-Exclusive Language as Ostracism

Three studies assessed whether a common cultural practice, namely, the use of gender-exclusive language (e.g., using he to indicate he or she), is experienced as ostracism at the group level by women. Women responded to the use of gender-exclusive language (he) during a mock job interview with a lower sense of belonging, less motivation, and less expected identification with the job compared to others exposed to gender-inclusive (he or she) or gender-neutral ( one) language (Studies 1 and 2). Moreover, the more emotionally disengaged women became over the course of a job interview upon hearing gender-exclusive language, the less motivation and job identification they subsequently reported (Study 3). Together, these studies show that subtle linguistic cues that may seem trivial at face value can signal group-based ostracism and lead members of the ostracized group to self-select out of important professional environments.
Symmetry of normal motor and sensory nerve conduction measurements

Nerve conduction measurements in normal subjects are assumed to be symmetric, but the normal limits of symmetry have not been determined. Full data on the limits of symmetry for commonly studied nerves are important in the clinical interpretation of nerve conduction data. We selected normal electrodiagnostic studies from archived electromyographic laboratory reports that included bilateral measurements of motor and sensory nerves. Symmetry of nerve conduction measures was confirmed, and only the median and ulnar sensory nerves had significant deviations from symmetry, supporting subclinical nerve damage in the most common dominant hand. The limits of symmetry were determined by calculating the 95th percentile for the differences between sides. For motor and sensory nerves, the range of 95th percentile limits was narrower for measures in upper extremity nerves compared to lower extremity nerves. Several reasons are offered for the wider limits of symmetry in lower extremity nerves.
Cα Method for Testing for Significance in the r × c Contingency Table

Abstract A test of independence in a (r × c) contingency table using a specified alternative hypothesis is proposed. The test is created using Neyman's Cα procedure and the approximate power computed. This test is useful when alternatives of a specific “slippage” type can be hypothesized. The usual χ2 test tends to detect all departures from randomness indiscriminately and thus not employ the added directional a priori information.
America's first monetary policy: inflation and seigniorage during the Revolutionary War

This examination of America's original monetary policy as implemented by the Continental Congress during the Revolutionary War finds that the extreme inflation experienced during the war resulted from a policy designed to circumvent a free-rider problem institutionalised by the Articles of Confederation, and that war news played a critical role in the behaviour of the money base over time. Furthermore, despite the extreme inflation, the inflation tax that accrued to Congress remained on the left side of the Laffer curve.
The Role of Text Analytics and Information Retrieval in the Accounting Domain

ABSTRACT: Textual documents proliferate throughout accounting practice, and a wide variety of groups make financial decisions based on written guidance. The Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), along with annual corporate financial statements and other reporting narratives, are important sources of such guidance and information. This paper examines the literature in two major areas relevant to text analytics and information retrieval in the accounting domain: (1) the manual and computational content analysis of accounting narratives, accounting readability studies, and related text-mining work, and (2) the information retrieval literature stream that addresses the extraction of both text elements as well as quantities imbedded in text from accounting documents, and includes the impact of understanding the accounting lexicon upon retrieval from digital accounting documents. We use the goals in developing the GAAP Codification, as expressed by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) in t...
Application of the LQG and feedforward controllers to the deep space network antennas

The controller development and the tracking performance evaluation for NASA's deep space network antennas are presented. A command preprocessor, LQG controller, feedforward controller, and their combination are designed, built, analyzed, and tested. The antenna exhibits nonlinear behavior when the input to the antenna and/or the derivative of this input exceeds the imposed limits; for slewing and acquisition commands, these limits are typically violated. A command preprocessor was designed to insure that the antenna behaves linearly, just to prevent nonlinear limit cycling. The estimator model for the LQG controller was identified from the data obtained from the field test. Based on an LQG balanced representation, a reduced-order LQG controller was obtained. The feedforward controller and the combination of the LQG and feedforward controller were also investigated. The performance of the controllers was evaluated with the tracking errors and the disturbance errors.
Si-magnetite nano-precipitates in silician magnetite from banded iron formation: Z-contrast imaging and ab initio study†

Si-bearing magnetite or silician magnetite is common in low- and high-temperature rocks. However, details about possible Fe-silicate or Si-Fe-oxide discrete phases/nano-precipitates were not available due to the limitations of conventional high-resolution TEM. Combining Z-contrast imaging and ab initio calculation using density functional theory (DFT) method, we have derived both composition and crystals structure of the discrete nano-precipitates within host magnetite. The nano-precipitates of Si-magnetite with composition of [¨0.5Fe 2+ 0.5] VI [Fe 3+ ] VI Si IV O4 or g-Fe1.5SiO4 occur in silician magnetite from a banded iron formation from Western Australia. In the Si-magnetite precipitates, Si replaces Fe 3+ in tetrahedral sites of the magnetite structure and vacancies are introduced in the octahedral Fe 2+ sites. The Si-magnetite precipitates distribute along {111} of the host magnetite. Widths of the precipitates are even multiples of d111 of magnetite, such as 2d111, 4d111, and 6d111. Ordering of the vacancies in the Si-magnetite will result in symmetry of P4332, which is a subgroup of Fd3m for magnetite. Stacking of Si-magnetite and magnetite (111) layers along the [111] direction also occur in magnetite. The nanoprecipitates result from exsolution of Si-magnetite from the host silician magnetite at low temperature. The occurrence of the thin nano-precipitates within the magnetite host results from the minimization of interfacial energy between the precipitate and the host magnetite. Relatively high concentrations of aqueous silica and Fe-silicate complex species in pore fluid might enhance the incorporation of Si into the silician magnetite during crystallization of the magnetite.
Coherent Detector Arrays for Terahertz Astrophysics Applications

This paper reviews the key technologies, challenges, and solutions related to the construction of coherent detector arrays in the terahertz waveband for astrophysics applications. We review fundamental performance limits and design constraints for arrays of coherent detectors, review several coherent array systems fielded to date, discuss the design and construction of next-generation systems, and review future prospects for advancements in coherent array technology.
Sleep in hospitalized medical patients, Part 1: Factors affecting sleep

BACKGROUND: Multiple factors lead to sleep disturbances in hospitalized medical patients. Inadequate sleep can lead to both psychological and physiological consequences. METHODS: A PubMed search was conducted using the terms: (“sleep deprivation,” “sleep,” or “insomnia”) and (“hospitalized,” “inpatient,” “critical illness,” or “acute illness”) to review the published data on the topic of sleep in hospitalized medical patients. The search was limited to English-language articles published between 1997 and 2008. Subsequent PubMed searches were performed to clarify the data described in the initial search, including the terms “hospital noise,” “hospital environment,” “obstructive sleep apnea,” and “heart failure.” RESULTS: Few articles specifically addressed the topic of sleep in hospitalized medical patients. Data were limited to observational studies that included outcomes such as sleep complaints and staff logs of wakefulness and sleep. In Part 1, we review normal sleep architecture, and discuss how major medical disorders, the hospital environment, and medications can disrupt sleep during hospitalization. In Part 2, we will propose an evaluation and treatment algorithm to optimize sleep in hospitalized medical patients. CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalization may severely disrupt sleep, which can worsen pain, cardiorespiratory status, and the psychiatric health of acutely ill patients. Like vital signs, the patient sleep quality reveals much about patients' overall well-being, and should be a routine part of medical evaluation. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2008;3(6):473–482. © 2008 Society of Hospital Medicine.
Performanc of aeromedical crewmembers: Training or experience?

Abstract In a clinical trial testing delivery of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and emergency cardiac care (ECC) in a medical helicopter, 40–45% of physicians, nurses, and paramedics certified in advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) performed below standard as compared with full-time flight nurses and paramedics. Personnel regularly engaged in aeromedical activities perform far better than those similarly qualified but less familiar with the aviation environment. Because regular ACLS techniques apply during air transport, training, comfort, experience, and confidence are critical factors in crew performance and may affect outcome. The ideal crew should include regular partners who train and work together. The temptation to assign personnel to aeromedical duties without adequate preparation, testing, and commitment must be resisted. Those responsible for the medical direction of hospital-based helicopter services should insist on full-time crew members and provide them with liberal training opportunities and opportunities for skill maintenance.
High Frequency Shear Waves Guided by a Continuous Lithosphere Descending beneath western South America

Summary Very prominent high frequency seismic waves arriving after the S phase from deep earthquakes (550–600 km) are interpreted as shear waves guided by the part of the suboceanic lithosphere, the Nazca plate, that has descended into the mantle beneath western South America. The large amplitudes and character of the phase suggest that the lithosphere descending beneath northern Chile and Argentina is continuous through the gap in seismicity between deep and intermediate depth earthquakes. The unusual phase is well recorded by the Peruvian stations ARE and NNA at epicentral distances of 13° to 21° from deep earthquakes located beneath northern Argentina and southern Bolivia. The phase is characterized by an apparent velocity near 4 · 7 km s-1, predominant frequencies near 1 Hz and an emergent beginning and long duration. At an epicentral distance of 20° the phase arrives nearly a minute after the normal S phase. The apparent velocity and travel times are in agreement with the hypothesis that the phase goes upwards through the gap in seismicity, traverses the intermediate depth seismic zone, and then travels horizontally in the uppermost mantle as the seismic phase Sn.
Simultaneous microbial reduction of iron(III) and arsenic(V) in suspensions of hydrous ferric oxide

Bacterial reduction of arsenic(V) and iron(III) oxides influences the redox cycling and partitioning of arsenic (As) between solid and aqueous phases in sediment-porewater systems. Two types of anaerobic bacterial incubations were designed to probe the relative order of As(V) and Fe(III) oxide reduction and to measure the effect of adsorbed As species on the rate of iron reduction, using hydrous ferric oxide (HFO) as the iron substrate. In one set of experiments, HFO was pre-equilibrated with As(V) and inoculated with fresh sediment from Haiwee Reservoir (Olancha, CA), an As-impacted field site. The second set of incubations consisted of HFO (without As) and As(III)- and As(V)- equilibrated HFO incubated with Shewanella sp. ANA-3 wild-type (WT) and ANA-3ΔarrA, a mutant unable to produce the respiratory As(V) reductase. Of the two pathways for microbial As(V) reduction (respiration and detoxification), the respiratory pathway was dominant under these experimental conditions. In addition, As(III) adsorbed onto the surface of HFO enhanced the rate of microbial Fe(III) reduction. In the sediment and ANA-3 incubations, As(V) was reduced simultaneously or prior to Fe(III), consistent with thermodynamic calculations based on the chemical conditions of the ANA-3 WT incubations.
Social Variables and Economic Success: the Case of Italian Industrial Development

Italy makes for a very interesting case study of the impact of social variables on economic performance. Across its provinces, differences in social and cultural attitudes seem associated to large differences in economic development. We analyze the importance of some social variables on industrialization and on employment creation across 95 Italian provinces during the period 1951-1991. On one hand we find little evidence that civic involvement (Social Capital) was associated with industrial and economic development. On the other hand we find strong evidence that organized crime, measured as high murder rates, was negatively correlated with industrial and economic development. We use measures of murder rates in the distant past to suggest that the correlation captures, at least in part, a stable and possibly causal link between organized crime and lack of employment growth.