cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dialects of Art: A Corpus-Based Approach to Technical Term of Art Determinations in Statutes

In 1893, the U.S. Supreme Court was called upon to determine whether a tomato was a fruit or a vegetable. The Tarriff Act of March 3, 1893 imposed a customs duty on “vegetables in their natural state, or in salt or brine[,]” but rendered fruits custom free. The real legal question in Nix, however, was not where to place tomatoes on the food pyramid, but how to determine whether a word or phrase had acquired specialized meaning within a specific, regulated industry. The only evidence presented at trial was the testimony of industry experts and dueling dictionary definitions. The case, however, was ultimately decided by the justices’ own linguistic intuition: “Beyond the common knowledge which we have on this subject, very little evidence is necessary, or can be produced.” While that may have been true in the late 19th Century, the emerging field of corpus linguistics now provides practitioners, expert witnesses, and judges with additional tools to assess whether or not a particular word or phrase has become a term of art within a regulated industry. Part I of this article will provide of overview of technical term of art jurisprudence as it now stands, including the justifications judges give for the existence of the canon of construction. Part II will then highlight the difficulties judges face in trying to apply this canon. Part III will then introduce a new methodology for making these determinations, relying principally on evidence derived from corpus linguistics to inform the judge’s judgment. The methodology will be demonstrated by applying it to the Nix case to determine the ordinary meaning of “fruit” and “vegetable” within trade and commerce in the late 19th Century. Finally, Part IV will anticipate objections to relying on corpus linguistics to resolve the meaning of technical terms of art.
Effect of Asymmetric Nonlinearity Dynamics in RRAMs on Spiking Neural Network Performance

Crossbar-based Resistive Random Access Memory (RRAM) array is a promising candidate for fast and efficient implementation of the vector-matrix multiplication, an essential step in a wide variety of workloads. However, several RRAM devices, demonstrating promising synaptic behaviors, are characterized by nonlinear and asymmetric update dynamics, which is a major obstacle for large-scale deployment in neural networks, especially for online learning tasks. In this work, we first introduce a memristive Spiking Neural Network (SNN) with local learning. Then, we study the effect of this asymmetric and nonlinear behavior on the spiking neural network performance and propose a method to overcome the performance degradation without extra nonlinearity cancellation hardware and read cycles. The performance of the proposed method approaches the baseline performance with 1 ∼ 2% drop in recognition accuracy.
Neighborhood disorder development across the life-course and its relevance for predicting offending

Research has indicated a relationship between neighborhood disorder and risk for offending, but little has taken a developmental perspective. Group-based trajectory modeling was used to identify la...
The role of Indonesian Think Tanks as policy entrepreneurs in policy development of village governance

The role of Indonesian think tanks as policy entrepreneurs is evolving as the government has become more open to the involvement of non-state actors.They are non-partisan, groups of intellectual, a...
COVID-19 and violence: a research call to action.

COVID-19 related guidelines and movement restrictions are designed to protect the public’s health and reduce disease transmission; yet, COVID-19 related restrictions on movement including social distancing, isolation, quarantine, and shelter-in-place orders have an unknown effect on violence and abuse within relationships. As the pandemic has progressed, many have justifiably speculated that such restrictions may pose a danger to the safety and well-being of people experiencing such violence. Early in the pandemic, countries hard hit by COVID-19 began raising the alarm bell about the impacts of the disease on IPV occurrence. Police in China report that 90% of the causes of recent IPV cases could be attributed to the COVID-19 epidemic. Rising fears and anxiety about prolonged movement restrictions, increased economic strain and diminished health care capacity to support survivors are among the potential reasons for such dramatic effects. Under normal circumstances: low income, unemployment, economic stress, depression, emotional insecurity and social isolation are all risk factors for using violence against partners. Many of these factors may worsen in the context of COVID-19. Despite the urgency in addressing COVID-19, existing health concerns like Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) persist—and may well be worsened by the virus. We simply do not yet know the effects of COVID-19 on violence, nor do we know which interventions work best to prevent and respond to it within the context of the pandemic. The vast majority of information available about IPV and violence during the pandemic has been based on anecdotal reports. The call to action for the research community is clear. We must systematically measure the effects of COVID-19 and movement related restrictions on violence. As always when researching violence, serious consideration must be given to ethics and safety. Violence researchers must mobilize to investigate the impacts of COVID-19 on violence and human health.
Experimental and theoretical P-V-T equation of state for Os2B3

Thermoelastic behavior of transition metal boride Os2B3 was studied under quasi-hydrostatic and isothermal conditions in a Paris-Edinburgh cell to 5.4 GPa and 1273 K. In-situ Energy Dispersive X-ra...
Diagnostic approaches to carcinoma of unknown primary of the head and neck

Squamous cell carcinoma in cervical lymph nodes arising from an undetected primary tumour, termed carcinoma of unknown primary (SCCUP), is a well-recognized clinical presentation within head and neck oncology. SCCUP is a common presentation for patients with human papillomavirus-mediated oropharyngeal cancer (HPV + OPSCC), as patients with HPV + OPSCC often present with smaller primary tumours and early nodal metastasis. Meticulous work-up of the SCCUP patient is central to the management of these patients as identification of the primary site improves overall survival and allows for definitive oncologic resection or more focused radiation when indicated. This review summarizes the comprehensive diagnostic approach to the SCCUP patient, including history and physical examination, methods of biopsy of the cervical lymph node, imaging modalities and intraoperative methods to localize the unknown primary. Novel techniques such as transcervical ultrasound of the oropharynx, narrow band imaging and diagnostic transoral robotic surgery are also discussed.
Characterizing the Non-linear Interactions Between Tide, Storm Surge, and River Flow in the Delaware Bay Estuary, United States

Low-lying coastal areas in the mid-Atlantic region are prone to compound flooding resulting from the co-occurrence of river floods and coastal storm surges. To better understand the contribution of nonlinear tide-surge-river interactions to compound flooding, the unstructured-grid Finite Volume Community Ocean Model was applied to simulate coastal storm surge and flooding in the Delaware Bay Estuary in the USA. The model was validated with tide gauge data in the estuary for selected hurricane events. Nonlinear interactions between tide-surge-river were investigated using a nonstationary tidal analysis method, which decomposes the interactions’ components at the frequency domain. Model results indicated that tide-river interactions damped semidiurnal tides, while the tide-surge interactions mainly influenced diurnal tides. Tide-river interactions suppressed the water level upstream while tide-surge interaction increased the water level downstream, which resulted in a transition zone of damping and enhancing effects where the tide-surge-river interaction was prominent. Evident compound flooding was observed as a result of nonlinear tide-surge-river interactions. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis was carried out to evaluate the effect of river flooding on the nonlinear interactions. The transition zone of damping and enhancing effects shifted downstream as the river flow rate increased.
Playing with Star Trek in the critical geography classroom: STEM education and otherwise possibilities

This paper reflects on the classroom use of the Star Trek American science fiction television franchise to teach critical and emotional geographies to undergraduates specializing in science, techno...
Causal Linear Topological Filters over a 2-Simplex.

Topological filters via sheaves generalize the classical linear translation-invariant filter theory by attaching the filter computation locally to a simplicial topological space. This paper develops topological filters for causal signal flow over a 2-simplex. Our construction retains the established construction for 1-simplices and we show how an apparent conflict in the sheaf assignment can be resolved by a concurrent extension, which introduces an auxiliary 1-simplex that computes the resolution. Furthermore, we discuss how singularities formed by double cone connections can be resolved.
A lightweight preserving-privacy scheme with authentication in Energy Internet

Energy Internet is considered as a promising approach to solve the problems of energy crisis and carbon emission. In Energy Internet real-time usage data are collected for optimizing the energy utilization. However, data malicious injection, eavesdropping, tampering, illegal interception, etc. are potential dangers that undermine the stable operation of energy interconnection. To cope with the security requirements of the Energy Internet and the requirements for real-time communication, as well as the complex architecture of the energy system, a lightweight data privacy protection scheme based on data aggregation is proposed to achieve device data privacy protection while achieving mutual authentication between devices , Improve the performance of the algorithm on the basis of meeting the security requirements, and prove its security and efficiency through security analysis and cost analysis to meet the network communication requirements of the Energy Internet.
Henry Stanley Plummer

Henry S. Plummer (1874–1936), son of a Minnesota general practitioner, was one of the early physicians to join the Mayo brothers, after which he played a formidable role in developing the infrastructure known as Mayo Clinic. He foresaw the value of an integrated group practice and need for specialization. He designed the clinic buildings, modernized the clinical laboratory, introduced x-rays to the practice, and created the modern medical record.
Overview of the Development, Utility, and Future of Molecular Diagnostics for Parasitic Diseases

Molecular diagnostics are undoubtedly changing the practice of modern clinical parasitology. Molecular assays have been developed for virtually all parasites causing clinical infections in humans. This chapter focuses on the techniques that have made the greatest impact in the clinical parasitology laboratory to date, namely, monoplex and multiplex real-time PCR. To illustrate the wide-ranging applications of clinical molecular parasitology, the chapter examines the large body of work on malaria. Conventional and real-time PCR assays for the Plasmodium species causing human malaria are now available in several reference laboratories and may be used as stand-alone tests or in conjunction with microscopy for species identification, quantification, and detection of some mixed infections. Serology is widely used but may be of limited utility in circumstances where it is critical to make an accurate diagnosis. Despite the recent progress in molecular diagnostics, there are significant limitations that hinder widespread adoption in the clinical parasitology laboratory. The majority of clinical laboratories do not have the expertise to develop in-house tests and must rely on commercially available assays.
Approaches to the Synthesis and Characterization of Spherical and Anisotropic Platinum Nanomaterials

The basic principles and recent research findings on the synthetic approaches to shape control of platinum nanostructures are reviewed in this chapter. Various thermodynamic and kinetic parameters directly relevant to shape evolution and uniformity control during nucleation and growth are discussed. Attention is focused on those concepts related to the control of morphology, such as defect formation, and aimed at explaining those aspects that can go beyond the classical LaMer concepts which do not deal with the control of shapes. Sequential growth and defect formation, both of which relate to morphology, are given special attention. The chemical reagents used to achieve such control are reviewed to present a global view of the selection principles. Secondary growth, which may lead to anisotropic or higher-ordered nanostructures, is presented as a new concept developed in recent years. The chapter further discusses the practical aspects of synthetic approaches to platinum nanostructures in both aqueous and nonhydrolytic systems. Detailed examples of synthetic and characterization approaches to zero-, one-, two- and three-dimensional nanostructured platinum are also presented, and emerging topics on the shape control of platinum alloys and intermetallics are briefly discussed. The chapter concludes with some details of present knowledge of key recent developments on the shape control of platinum nanostructures. Keywords: platinum; nanostructure; nanorod; multipod; morphology; shape; alloy
Trade Policy, Standards, and Development in Central America

After reviewing the current state of standards and trade in Central America, the authors suggest top priorities for reform from a trade policy perspective in a new and increasingly important area of public policy and development. They conclude that it makes sense to: a) take a regional rather than a national approach to setting up accreditation, testing, and metrology infrastructure - to share equipment, experts, and information to get more bang out of limited funding; b) promote regional bodies as venues for Central American countries to develop common positions in international discussions of the development of standards; c) regionalize information-gathering efforts and use information technology to disseminate that information rapidly; and d) push for a sunset clause in international standards developments, because standards have value only if adopted and used.
A high precision CMOS current mirror/divider

A current mirror topology is proposed that provides very high precision, design insensitive up and down mirrored current, operation over a wide power supply range, straightforward design, and the possibility of conveniently obtaining a wide range of current divisions. This topology is appropriate for those applications in which precise current handling is necessary such as high accuracy A/D and D/A converters and reference cells.
Book Review: Coming in from the Margins: Faculty Development's Emerging Organizational Development Role in Institutional Change

A book review of Coming in from the Margins: Faculty Development's Emerging Organizational Development Role in Institutional Change by Connie M. Schroeder and Associates.
HIV envelope induces virus expression from resting CD4+ T cells isolated from HIV-infected individuals in the absence of markers of cellular activation or apoptosis.

Resting CD4 + T cells containing integrated HIV provirus constitute one of the long-lived cellular reservoirs of HIV in vivo. This cellular reservoir of HIV had been thought to be quiescent with regard to virus replication based on the premise that HIV production in T cells is inexorably linked to cellular activation as determined by classical activation markers. The transition of T cells within this HIV reservoir from a resting state to an activated HIV-producing state is believed to be associated with a shorten life span due to susceptibility to activation-associated apoptosis. Evidence is mounting, however, that HIV production may occur in T cells that have not undergone classic T cell activation. HIV encodes several proteins, including envelope and Nef, which trigger a variety of signaling pathways associated with cellular activation, thereby facilitating HIV replication in nondividing cells. The present study demonstrates that production of infectious virus from resting CD4 + T cells isolated from HIV-infected individuals can be induced following exposure of these cells to HIV-1 recombinant (oligomeric gp140) envelope protein. Envelope-mediated induction of HIV expression occurs in the presence of reverse transcriptase inhibitors and is not associated with markers of classic T cell activation, proliferation, or apoptosis. The ability of HIV envelope to induce virus replication in HIV-infected resting CD4 + T cells without triggering apoptosis provides a mechanism for the virus itself to directly participate in the maintenance of HIV production from this cellular reservoir.
Comment on harper-dorn creep in Al alloys

Behavior typical of Harper--Dorn creep in Al--2%Mg alloy is reported and a modified viscous-glide process is considered to account for this behavior. (FS)
Urban and rural Indian drinking patterns: the special case of the Lumbee

This paper reports the results of a study of 460 adult male Lumbee Indians in a rural and urban setting. The study sought to determine what factors would explain the differences in drinking patterns between the rural and urban settings. The major variables considered were: (1) quantity, frequency, and variability of drinking; (2) occupational prestige; (3) commitment to work; (4) status satisfaction; and (5) job satisfaction. The urban Lumbee show a mean drinking pattern that is heavier than that of the rural group. In general, low achievement, as measured by occupational prestige and status satisfaction, and low satisfaction, as measured by job satisfaction and commitment to work, predict more excessive drinking patterns. Implications of the findings for treatment and future research are discussed.
Ultrastructural aspects of early immune damage to Taenia crassiceps metacestodes.

Abstract Siebert, A. E. Jr. , Good A. H. and Simmons J. E. 1978. Ultrastructural aspects of early immune damage to Taenia crassiceps metacestodes. International Journal for Parasitology 8 : 45–53. Changes in the ultrastructure of the tegument and subtegumental cells of intraperitoneally implanted Taenia crassiceps metacestodes were studied by transmission electron microscopy over a 4-week period. Death of metacestodes without involvement of host inflammatory cells is indicated initially by vacuolization of the larval tegument followed by loss of the tegument and subsequent death of the larvae. Changes in the tegument involve loss of the glycocalyx, reduction in the numbers of mitochondria and microtriches present, and loss of secretory capacity. Subtegumental cells show an accumulation of secretory vacuoles and marked disruption of nuclear morphology. Tegument damage is attributed to a complement-mediated lysis of the outer tegument membrane and death of the larvae probably results from loss of tegument function.
Firm's resilience to supply chain disruptions: Scale development and empirical examination

This paper expands our understanding of factors that contribute to development of firm resilience to supply chain disruptions. In doing so, we operationalize firm resilience to understand how supply chain disruption orientated firms can develop resilience to supply chain disruptions. We find that supply chain disruption orientation alone is not enough for a firm to develop resilience. Supply chain disruption oriented firms require the ability to reconfigure resources or have a risk management resource infrastructure to develop resilience. The way in which supply chain disruption oriented firms develop resilience through resource reconfiguration or risk management infrastructure depends on the context of the disruption as high impact or low impact. In a high impact disruption context, resource reconfiguration fully mediates the relationship between supply chain disruption orientation and firm resilience. In a low impact disruption context, supply chain disruption orientation and risk management infrastructure have a synergistic effect on developing firm resilience.
The prognostic value of chromosome studies in patients with the preleukemic syndrome (hemopoietic dysplasia)

Banded chromosome studies obtained at the time of diagnosis from 42 patients with the preleukemic syndrome had clonal abnormalities in fifteen. Using Kaplan-Meier product limit survival analysis, it was found that patients with chromosome abnormalities developed acute leukemia more frequently than those without (p < 0.05). However, we noted that in a subset of patients with complex abnormalities and in a subset previously exposed to alkylating agents, almost all developed leukemia. When either subset was excluded from the larger group analysis there were no differences in leukemia-free survival between cytogenetically abnormal and normal groups. Thus, in the prognostic evaluation of our patients with the preleukemic syndrome a chromosome abnormality per se did not predict rapid evolution to acute leukemia. However, almost all preleukemic patients with complex chromosome abnormalities and almost all alkylator-exposed preleukemic patients can be expected to develop overt leukemia within 1 yr.
Opposing Functions of TFII-I Spliced Isoforms in Growth Factor-Induced Gene Expression

Multifunctional transcription factor TFII-I has two spliced isoforms (Delta and beta) in murine fibroblasts. Here we show that these isoforms have distinct subcellular localization and mutually exclusive transcription functions in the context of growth factor signaling. In the absence of signaling, TFII-Ibeta is nuclear and recruited to the c-fos promoter in vivo. But upon growth factor stimulation, the promoter recruitment is abolished and it is exported out of the nucleus. Moreover, isoform-specific silencing of TFII-Ibeta results in transcriptional activation of the c-fos gene. In contrast, TFII-IDelta is largely cytoplasmic in the resting state but translocates to the nucleus upon growth factor signaling, undergoes signal-induced recruitment to the same site on the c-fos promoter, and activates the gene. Importantly, activated TFII-IDelta interacts with Erk1/2 (MAPK) kinase in the cell cytoplasm and imports the Erk1/2 to the nucleus, thereby transducing growth factor signaling. Our results identify a unique growth factor signaling pathway controlled by opposing activities of two TFII-I spliced isoforms.
Ambient air pollution and risk for ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack

Objective: Data on the association between air pollution and cerebrovascular disease in the United States are limited. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between short-term exposure to ambient air pollution and risk for ischemic cerebrovascular events in a US community. Methods: Daily counts of ischemic strokes/transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) (2001–2005) were obtained from the populationbased Brain Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi (BASIC) Project. Daily particulate matter less than 2.5m in diameter (PM2.5), ozone (O3), and meteorological data were obtained from Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. To examine the association between PM2.5 and stroke/TIA risk, we used Poisson regression. Separate models included same-day PM2.5, PM2.5 lagged 1 to 5 days, and an averaged lag effect. All models were adjusted for temperature, day of week, and temporal trends in stroke/TIA. The effects of O3 were also investigated. Results: Median PM2.5 was 7.0g/m 3 (interquartile range, 4.8 –10.0g/m 3 ). There were borderline significant associations between same-day (relative risk [RR], 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.99 –1.07 for an interquartile range increase in PM2.5) and previous-day (RR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.00 –1.07) PM2.5 and stroke/TIA risk. These associations were independent of O3, which demonstrated similar associations with stroke/TIA risk (same-day RR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.97–1.08; previous-day RR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.99 –1.09). Interpretation: We observed associations between recent PM2.5 and O3 exposure and ischemic stroke/TIA risk even in this community with relatively low pollutant levels. This study provides data on environmental exposures and stroke risk in the United States, and suggests future research on ambient air pollution and stroke is warranted. Ann Neurol 2008;64:53–59 Air pollution is linked to cardiovascular disease in general 1– 6 and cardiac disease specifically. 1,7–13 Data on the association between air pollution and stroke are more limited, although the underlying biological mechanisms linking air pollution to ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease may be similar. Most of the evidence linking air pollution and stroke is from time-series analyses relating daily air pollution levels to daily counts of stroke deaths obtained from vital statistics or similar data sources. 2,14 –20 Studies have been conducted outside of the United States, 14 –17,19,20 with most demonstrating positive associations with one or more air pollutants. An association between air pollution and stroke mortality has also been noted in certain areas of the United States. 4
Teach Me, but: Don't Disagree with Me:

Polarized politics is combining with the black-and-white thinking that prevails among many traditional-age college students and the often strong opinions of educators to produce a climate of frustr...
Doubly charged ion mass spectra of alkyl-substituted furans and pyrroles

Doubly charged ion mass spectra of alkyl-substituted furans and pyrroles were obtained using a double-focusing magnetic mass spectrometer operated at 3.2 kV accelerating voltage. Molecular ions were the dominant species found in doubly charged spectra of lower molecular weight heterocydic compounds, whereas the spectra of the higher weight homologues were typified by abundant fragment ions from extensive decomposition. Measured doubly charged ionization and appearance energies ranged from 22.8 to 47.9 eV. Ionization energies were correlated with values calculated using self-consistent field–molecular orbital techniques. A multichannel diabatic curve-crossing model was developed to investigate the fundamental organic ion reactions responsible for development of doubly charged ion mass spectra. Probabilities for Landau–Zener type transitions between reactant and product curves were determined and used in the collision model to predict charge-transfer cross-sections, which compared favorably with experimental cross-sections obtained using time-of-flight techniques.
Lou Gehrig and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Is vitamin E to be revisited

Investigators are beginning to reexamine the use of vitamin E for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Vitamin E was isolated in the 1920s, and the results of animal studies led rapidly to clinical use. Regrettably, vitamin E did not ameliorate the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis for Lou Gehrig, but more recent advances may identify subpopulations that do respond to vitamin E.
Interactive Gel Networks for Organic Chemical Separations

A comparison is drawn between the fundamental logic of the origin of ion exchange affinity, and that of the newly discovered behavior of interactive gels. The basis for predicting interactive chromatographic affinity is examined.
THE IMPACT OF THE FLUORIDATION OF WATER ON THE PRACTICE OF ORAL SURGERY

The University of Illinois details the impact of fluoridated water on the practice of oral surgery.
Calculations of the electronic properties of substoichiometric Ti-Fe hydride

We have calculated the electronic structure of ${\mathrm{TiFeH}}_{\mathrm{x}}$ using the tight-binding coherent-potential-approximation method. The tight-binding parameters were determined by Slater-Koster fits to augmented-plane-wave calculations of TiFe and ${\mathrm{TiFeH}}_{1.0}$. We have computed the densities of states (DOS) for the hydrogen concentrations x=0.1, x=0.8, and x=0.9, and obtained the angular-momentum and site-decomposed DOS. We have found that the Fermi level ${E}_{F}$ is very nearly independent of x, but the DOS values at ${E}_{F}$ increase rapidly with x in agreement with experiment. We discuss various features of the DOS relating to the effects of hydrogenation and disorder.
Young surgeons' attitudes regarding surgery and professional organizations.

Abstract Background Attitudes of young surgeons regarding professional organizations are unclear. We surveyed young surgeons to assess their opinions regarding the role of The American College of Surgeons in the future of surgery. Methods A 21-question on-line survey was distributed to all young (age Results Among 2689 respondents, reimbursement and malpractice were the most important issues to surgeons at all levels of training. Organizational attributes of importance to young surgeons included leadership, educational tools, mentorship, and avenues to participate in organized medicine. They value programs to address patient safety, surgical quality, reimbursement, and health policy. Conclusions Methods to recruit and retain young surgeons into medical organizations should include educational efforts, mentorship programs, practice-management courses, health policy reform, and opportunities for involvement in organizational activities.
A Thermographic Look At Plasma Spraying

Plasma spray systems are used to deposit high temperature materials on substrates to form coatings. Thermal analysis of these systems will assist in determining spray parameters for different materials. Infrared videothermography was used to measure temperature profiles and particle velocities of these plasma spray systems. Thermal gradients were defined, and an equatorial temperature profile was estimated. Changes in particle velocities were determined, and the thermal effect of particles on the plasma during spraying was observed. The thermography system was able to investigate high temperature plasmas above 15,000°C, study particle movements, and analyze flame profiles.
Plastic surgeons' perceptions of the affordable care act: results of a national survey.

BACKGROUND The Affordable Care Act (ACA) aims to expand coverage to the uninsured, improve quality, and contain costs. The goal of this study was to ascertain how plastic surgeons perceive the ACA. METHODS An electronic questionnaire was e-mailed to members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons between May and June 2014. The survey was anonymous and voluntary and included questions to assess understanding and opinions of the ACA. RESULTS The survey was sent to 3070 members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and the response rate was 17%. Sixty-eight percent agree or strongly agree that they understand the basic concepts of the ACA. The majority of respondents disagree (38% strongly disagree, 31% disagree) with the notion that the ACA will positively affect their practice, and 51% agree with the statement, "I do not support the ACA, and I believe it did too much." Two thirds (66%) believe that the ACA deserves a grade of D or F. When answers were analyzed across demographics, 42% of respondents with "Academic" practice background identify with the statement, "I support the ACA but I think it needs more work," compared to 15% of those who selected "Solo Practice" (p <0.001). CONCLUSIONS The ACA will affect all specialties, including plastic surgery. The results of this survey suggest that many plastic surgeons believe that they have a baseline understanding of current health-care reform. The majority of surveyed surgeons do not support the Act. It is imperative that plastic surgeons possess the knowledge of the ACA; its changes, both current and impending, will likely affect patient mix, coverage of procedures, and reimbursement.
A note on the token distribution problem

Abstract Consider a set of packets distributed unevenly among the nodes of a bounded degree network of processors. The Token Distribution Problem involves redistributing these packets so that each node holds the same number. Token distribution algorithms underlie several efficient routing algorithms. Peleg and Upfal formulated this problem and presented a communication-efficient solution. In this paper we refine their techniques to provide a solution that is efficient with respect to both communication and local computation.
Subordination of American capital

Abstract To economists, agency problems present challenges that can be resolved through optimal contracting or incentive mechanisms. To politicians, agency problems represent entitlements to be allocated among favored constituencies. Corporate management constitutes a powerful constituency independent of the interests of workers, local communities, and other corporate stakeholders. The political process has, for politically rational but economically dabatable reasons, systematically subordinated investors' desire to resolve agency problems to managers' desire to be protected from capital-market discipline. Politically explicit modes of analysis thus complement traditional tools of finance theory and improve our ability to explain capital-market structure and behavior.
Editor’s Note: Remembering Roxana Moreno

This past summer, we lost a mover and shaker in the field of educational psychology when Roxana Moreno passed away. Although Roxana left us at a relatively young age and early in her career—she received her Ph.D. in 1999, she left her mark with an impressive list of scholarly contributions and by influencing the people with whom she had worked. This editor’s note includes comments from those who were close to her.
Violent crime and modernization in Colombia

This paper assesses violent crime in Colombia by focusing on police arrest data from 1938 to 1967. Social and political conditions provide the cultural context from which the effects of modernization on crime are examined. Shelley's modermization perspective claims that violent crime increases when a country modernizes, but property crimes increase after relative wealth and prosperity are achieved. Regression results support Shelley's perspective for the crimes of robbery and theft, whereas her theory gamered weaker support for the crimes of homicide and assault. Theoretical implications for modernization theory in light of the findings are discussed.
Magnetospheric convection and thermal ions in the dayside outer magnetosphere

[1] We have surveyed 3.5 years of Polar Thermal Ion Dynamics Experiment (TIDE) data between 1 January 2000 and 30 June 2003, when Polar apogee paths (sections of orbits with geocentric distances r > 5 RE) were in the dayside outer magnetosphere, to study the spatial distribution of thermal ions and the magnetospheric convection paths of the thermal ions, as a function of interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) orientation. We have found a dawn-dusk asymmetry in the occurrence of detectable thermal ions above the instrument threshold. The occurrence rate was significantly higher at the duskside. The probability of observing thermal ions, particularly at 1300–1600 local time (LT) near the magnetopause, was >50%, compared with <30% at the dawnside. We interpret the thermal ion events as the result of plasmaspheric drainage plumes, as observed by IMAGE spacecraft or geosynchronous orbiters. The episodic appearance of the thermal ions in the outer magnetosphere could be a significant factor for the dynamo process of global magnetospheric convection. The variation of the convection pattern due to the IMF orientation is consistent with equatorward and poleward reconnection scenarios that superimpose dayside convection driven by reconnection on top of the background convection driven by a viscous interaction at the magnetopause, together with the corotation of the magnetospheric plasma with the ionosphere.
Can Development Impact Fees Help Mitigate Urban Sprawl

Problem, research strategy, and findings: Local governments often react to sprawl by adopting urban containment policies to limit fringe growth and encourage core development. An alternative is to design impact fee programs accounting for the higher costs of providing services to remote locations. Zone-based impact fee programs carry this potential, but there is no empirical work investigating their effect on residential development. We explored the effects of a zone-based impact fee program on residential permits issued across the Albuquerque, NM, metropolitan statistical area using 21 years of data, identifying countervailing influences on density. The program mitigated sprawl by reducing the share of construction occurring near the urban fringe and by increasing the share in more centrally located areas, but there is no evidence the program increased core development. During a brief period when Albuquerque had impact fees but an adjacent community did not, we observed spillover effects that exacerbated...
Scanning electron microscopy of the spermatheca in Sitophilus granarius (L.)

With scanning electron microscopy the spermathecal organ of Sitophilus granarius (L.) has been examined. The only morphological attachment between this organ and other tissues is to the bursa copulatrix by the sperm duct and to the central nervous system by two nerve fibers. The nerves innervate the muscles connecting the two arms of the U-shaped spermatheca. Glandular cells are grouped together and are connected to the spermathecal lumen by a short collecting duct. Vascular sinuses opening from the body cavity into the body of the gland are observed as pores on the surface of the gland.
Solution of the transmission-line equations for lossy conductors and imperfect earth

A numerically stable and efficient method of diagonalising the product of the per-unit-length impedance and admittance matrices for multiconductor transmission lines with lossy conductors or lossy earth return is presented. Cases are discussed where, by an approximation, the product of these matrices, which is complex and frequency-dependent, can be diagonalised using a real, frequency-independent modal-decomposition matrix. Frequency dependence is included in the calculation of the modal-propagation constants.
Enhancing micro-perforated panel attenuation by partitioning the adjoining cavity

The sound attenuation performance of micro-perforated panels (MPP) with adjoining air cavity is investigated for a plenum. The sound field inside of a plenum is compared for two cases. In the first case, the plenum is treated with an MPP and adjoining air cavity without any partitioning. For the second case, the adjoining air cavity is partitioned into a number of sub-cavities. The resulting sound pressure fields indicate that partitioning the adjoining air cavity increases the overall sound attenuation due to the MPP by approximately 4 dB. The explanation for this phenomenon was investigated by measuring the sound pressure level on planes in front of the MPP. Additionally, boundary element analyses were conducted to simulate the effect of the MPP and adjoining cavity with and without partitioning on the sound field in the plenum. It was demonstrated that a MPP can be modeled as a transfer impedance and that partitioning the adjoining cavity enhances attenuation to acoustic modes that propagate transverse to the MPP.
Implementation of a three-dimensional compensation system based on computed tomography generated surface contours and tissue inhomogeneities.

A computed tomography (CT) based system that compensates for patient surface contour and internal tissue inhomogeneity was implemented in our clinic. The compensators are fabricated with a mixture of tin granules and bee’s wax. The tin/wax mixture was optimized for tin granule size and tin granule to wax ratio. The narrow beam attenuation coefficients were measured for 4‐, 6‐, 10‐, and 24‐MV photon beams. The compensator design and fabrication methodology were verified by measuring the dose distribution for a known surface contour irradiated with a compensated beam and for a known inhomogeneity that was submerged in a water phantom and irradiated with a compensated beam. For the surface contour, the uncompensated isodose levels varied by as much as 10% in the compensation plane and the compensator restored the isodose level to a variation of less than 1.3%. Measured and calculated doses for this surface contour were found to differ by less than 3.4%. For the inhomogeneity, the uncompensated isodose levels varied by 27% in the compensation plane and the compensator restored the isodose level to a variation of less than 1.5%. Measured and calculated doses for the known inhomogeneity were found to differ by less than 2%. Measurements of depth‐dose curves indicate that the presence of the compensator in the beam does not significantly increase the surface dose. Twenty‐six compensators have now been fabricated for clinical cases. In these patients, dose variations as great as 19% occurred in the plane of compensation prior to placing the compensator in the beam. Measured and calculated dose profiles with the compensators in place have been found to agree within 2.3%.
The rising renaissance engineer spectrum awards (abstract only)

We describe a new annual awards program, the Rising Renaissance Engineer Spectrum Awards, which recognizes a diverse body of students across all engineering departments at our institution for their initiatives and achievements in educational, research, and professional development activities. This award is unique at our institution because it is inclusively for students from all six engineering departments and specifically promotes underrepresented groups. This awards program complements existing engineering awards honoring faculty, staff, and alumni for their research, teaching, and service. It is modeled after the NCWIT (National Center for Women in Information Technology) Aspirations in Computing Award, which has successfully encouraged many female high school students to persist in computing careers. With the Computer Science Department spearheading the effort, this project is a collaborative partnership among representatives from all engineering departments.
Transmission electron microscope analyses of alteration phases in martian meteorite MIL 090032

Abstract The nakhlite group of martian meteorites found in the Antarctic contain varying abundances of both martian and terrestrial secondary alteration phases. The aim of this study was to use transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to compare martian and terrestrial alteration embodied within a single nakhlite martian meteorite find – MIL 090032. Martian alteration veins in MIL 090032 are composed of poorly ordered Fe-smectite phyllosilicate. This poorly-ordered smectite appears to be equivalent to the nanocrystalline phyllosilicate/hydrated amorphous gel phase previously described in the martian alteration veins of other nakhlites. Chemical differences in this nanocrystalline phyllosilicate between different nakhlites imply localised alteration, which occurred close to the martian surface in MIL 090032. Both structurally and compositionally the nakhlite nanocrystalline phyllosilicate shows similarities to the amorphous/poorly ordered phase recently discovered in martian soil by the Mars Curiosity Rover at Rocknest, Gale Crater. Terrestrially derived alteration phases in MIL 090032 include jarosite and gypsum, amorphous silicates, and Fe-oxides and hydroxides. Similarities between the mineralogy and chemistry of the MIL 090032 terrestrial and martian alteration phases suggest the alteration conditions on Mars were similar to those in the Antarctic. At both sites a small amount of fluid at low temperatures infiltrated the rock and became acidic as a result of the conversion of Fe2+ to Fe3+ under oxidising conditions.
Treatment of Deviant Lactation Records in Sire Summaries

Abstract Effects of procedures applied to widely deviant records on a mass basis to improve predictive ability of early Sire Summaries were investigated. Data were first lactation daughter records for 200 Holstein bulls with at least 500 daughters. Five subsets of the first 10, 30, 50, 70, or 90 daughters to calve for each bull were created to simulate data ordinarily available for the first few Sire Summaries in a bull's life. Three empirical procedures were developed based on SD appropriate for herd yield: 1) differences between daughter Modified Contemporary Deviation and sire ancestor merit were multiplied by probability function values (regression procedure), 2) length weights for calculating daughter Modified Contemporary Deviation were multiplied by probability function values (weighting procedure), and 3) records were excluded based on number of SD between daughter Modified Contemporary Deviation and sire ancestor merit (elimination procedure). Experimental sire evaluations were calculated and compared with July 1984 USDA-DHIA Sire Summaries. Maximum improvements of 1 to 3% in predicting genetc merit were found for all three procedures for evaluations based on smaller numbers of daughters. If these small increases in accuracy are repeatable, they would justify added computational expense necessary to implement adjustment procedures for a national data set.
Rational Period Functions and Parabolic Cohomology

Abstract In [K], M. Knopp defined a generalization of Eichler cohomology by considering rational functions as possible periods for the action, by way of the usual slash operator, of a Fuchsian group upon functions defined on the upper half-plane. This theory of rational period functions already enjoys a rich history. A significant step was made by A. Ash [A], who applied cohomological techniques in the setting of the finite index subgroups of the modular group to provide a classification of their rational period functions. Here we show that Ash's theorem, with appropriate adjustments, is valid for all finitely generated Fuchsian groups of the first kind with parabolic elements. Ash's proof relies heavily upon the Borel–Serre compactification for arithmetic groups. We show that this compactification is valid in our wider setting and proceed to give a simplified version of the Ash proof. Applications to the classification of rational period functions of the Hecke groups are provided.
Analysis of low-spin ESR spectra of ferric heme proteins: A reexamination

Abstract Explicit derivations are presented for the expressions necessary to analyze the ESR spectra of low-spin heme iron centers. Emphasis is placed on those centers which satisfy commonly assumed conditions; at the same time, tests for the validity of those assumptions are developed. The means of selecting the correct coordinate system in which to state the results from ESR measurements on powder samples are examined. Furthermore, attention is called to the signs of the principal g values for each center and the limited degree to which these signs are arbitrary. All of the expressions developed are written in a manner intended to facilitate their use. They are illustrated by applying them to data from several categories of hemoglobin derivatives and from ferricytochrome c.
RALPH WENDELL BURHOE AND THE TWO CULTURES

. Ralph Burhoe developed his proposals for a social reformation at a time when the “two cultures” debate was still active. It is suggested here that Burhoe, sharing with his contemporaries an understanding of culture that was Western and normative in character, overlooked the distinction between the culture of the elites and popular culture, and consequently between religion as presented by theologians and church officials and popular religion. Therefore, his proposals for the revitalization of traditional religions, even if implemented, would not work. Some contradictions within his own program are pointed out, and the social role of the sciences after World War II, as well as the ambiguities of their presence in the so-called underdeveloped nations, is analyzed. As a positive conclusion, it is suggested that Burhoe's main contribution should be sought, not in his outline for a social reformation, but in his role as an organizer of the dialogue between religion and science.