cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An end-user tool for e-commerce debugging

We demonstrate Woodstein, a software agent that tracks user interaction with e-commerce Web sites through a browser, and relates the browsing events to high-level models of complex, multi-step processes such as purchases or account transfers. Woodstein explains action steps and data in an understandable form, visualizes action history, and aids the user in exploring the causes of errors.
Overcoming the 90% Syndrome: Iteration Management in Concurrent Development Projects

Successfully implementing concurrent development to reduce cycle time has proven difficult due to unanticipated iterations. We develop a dynamic project model that explicitly models these interactions to investigate the causes of the ''90% syndrome,'' a common form of schedule failure in concurrent development. We find that increasing concurrence and common managerial responses to schedule pressure aggravate the syndrome and degrade schedule performance and project quality. We show how understanding of and policies to avoid the 90% syndrome require integration of the technical attributes of the project, the flows of information among participants, and the behavioral decision- making heuristics participants use to respond to unanticipated problems and perturbations.
A middle Wisconsin pollen record from Hay Lake, Arizona

The lower part of a 5-m core from Hay Lake (34°N, 109° 25′W) at 2780 m in east-central Arizona provides a pollen record for the middle Wisconsin. Identification of fossil pines is based on a key modified from Hansen and Cushing (1973, Geological Society of America Bulletin 84, 1181–1200). Pinus edulis and P. monophylla are similar in size and morphology but are significantly different from P. flexilis. Haploxylon pines dominate the pollen record. The abundance of pinyon pines during the middle Wisconsin is interpreted as indicating that this group was widespread at lower elevations. The local vegetation was mixed conifer forest consisting of Picea, P. aristata, P. flexilis and/or P. strobiformis, and with P. ponderosa and/or P. contorta after about 26,000 yr B.P. Tree line was above the elevation of Hay Lake. The middle Wisconsin climate is inferred to have been cooler than today and is marked by more available moisture that permitted pinyon pines to grow at low elevations.
Sacral stress fracture in a young healthy athlete.

Because previous plain film results of the lumbar spine were negative, magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine and pelvis was obtained. The magnetic resonance imaging revealed bone marrow edema with a T1 hypointense line on both sides of the right sacroiliac joint, best seen in coronal sections, consistent with stress fracture (Fig. 1A–B). Figure 1 Coronal T1 image (A) demonstrates a fracture line involving predominantly the fibrous portion of both sides of the right sacroiliac joint, with associated edema demonstrated on image (B). Sacral stress fractures are being reported with increasing frequency in the medical literature.1 There are two subcategories of stress fractures, fatigue and insufficiency, with the fatigue subtype predominant in athletes.2 Leg length discrepancy leading to unequal stride length and asymmetrical movements of the lower spine, sacroiliac joints, and hips has been proposed as a predisposing factor.1 These fractures are thought to often result from training errors when excessive or rapid increases in the athlete’s training regimen cause muscle fatigue, with resultant stress to the bone that exceeds its ability to regenerate.2 These injuries are most often seen in runners or military recruits, with female athletes at higher risk than male athletes.1,2 Diagnosis is most effectively made by bone scintigraphy or magnetic resonance imaging, as plain radiographs are not generally sensitive enough to reveal stress fractures.3 Computed tomography scans can be useful in staging the fracture line.3 Treatment involves rest and activity modification. A progressive return to athletic activities is advocated, starting with non-weight-bearing exercises, followed by strength training and correction of strength imbalances, and finally, gradual reentry into sport-specific activities.2 Proper nutrition is also important for healing.2 This patient improved rapidly with relative rest. A follow-up computed tomography obtained 3 mos later showed no further evidence of fracture. He was advised to abstain from deep squats beyond 90 degrees indefinitely, as this exercise was felt to be the most likely precipitant of his injury.
Trafficking in Literary Authority: Mudie's Select Library and the Commodification of the Victorian Novel

Although middle- and upper-class Victorian readers had ready access to the kinds of books which they desired, the format and price of many Victorian novels precluded (and indeed discouraged) even wealthy readers from actually owning such texts. Throughout much of the nineteenth century, most novels were produced in an expensive, three-volume (or triple decker) format, and their cost remained a constant "guinea-and-a-half" from roughly 1821, when Sir Walter Scott's Kenilworth set the price, until 1894, when the major circulating libraries banned the three-volume novel from their shelves. Middle-class novel readers were thus encouraged to borrow the newest three-volume works from commercial libraries, rather than buy them from the local bookseller. The reasons for this constancy of format and price, and this peculiar discouragement of ownership, can be found in the discursive and economic structures of the largest of such institutions, Mudie's Select Library, established by Charles Mudieinl842. This essay will focus on the ways that value was created through the material conditions of the Victorian three-volume novel in Mudie's Library. The dominance of this particular format can largely be seen as a result of the economic power which Mudie's Library exerted on novel production, in conjunction with a rhetorical and material emphasis on the advantages of an institutionalized system of borrowing. Rather than approaching the three-volume novel from the perspective of its mode of production, a strategy which has already been fruitfully employed by John Sutherland and N. N. Feltes among others, this paper will focus on the three-volume novel's mode of circulation or exchange. The three-volume novel was a very
Abstract 3221: Covalent inhibitors of S100B (SBiXs) in malignant melanoma

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Summary: The calcium binding protein, S100B, has been directly linked to malignant melanoma (MM) and has long been used as a prognostic indicator. Studies have proven S100B to not only be a clinical marker within MM, but that it binds to the tumor suppressor p53, and promotes its degradation. p53 is typically found as wild-type in MM, and inhibition of S100B expression restores both p53 protein levels and normal transcriptional activation/apoptosis activities. Subsequently, we have made it our long-term goal to discover S100B inhibitors (SBiXs) in order to restore the p53 tumor suppression function in patients with MM, and have already identified many SBiXs. Purpose: It is our purpose to discover/synthesize and/or to improve existing inhibitors of S100B to restore p53 activity in human malignant melanoma. Amongst these SBiXs are compounds which covalently modify S100B. The effects of covalent SBiXs on S100B in Malignant Melanoma are to be investigated. Results and conclusions: The development of S100B inhibitors (SBiXs) is ongoing at the University of Maryland Schools of Pharmacy and Medicine with the goal of improving affinity and specificity towards inhibiting S100B. Fluorescent Polarization Completion Assays have identified compounds that bind S100B and inhibit melanoma cell growth. S100B binding by these SBiXs was confirmed using NMR spectroscopy. The crystallographic structures of the SBiX:S100B complexes were solved revealing covalent modifiers occupying persistent binding site 2. The compounds offer potential bridging scaffolds between sites 1 and 3. All five SBiXs demonstrated the ability to kill malignant melanoma with some killing in a S100B dependent manner. TheS100B-SBiX complexes presented will act as the basis for the design of improved SBiXs. SBiXs may also have therapeutic value for treating other cancers with elevated S100B and wt p53 such as astrocytoma, renal tumors, and some forms of leukemia. Citation Format: Michael C. Cavalier. Covalent inhibitors of S100B (SBiXs) in malignant melanoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3221. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3221
Finding the Written in Unexpected Places Literacy in the Maintenance and Practice of Lukumí Rituals and Traditions

This study describes the use of literacy—including the written word—in the maintenance and practice of Lukumi, a Diasporic African spiritual tradition. While Lukumi is decidedly orally transmitted, the written word is still a critical part of its contemporary practice. Relying on data collected during participant observation of ceremonies and rituals, semistructured interviews and focus groups, the study reveals the ways in which orality, material culture, and the written word exist within a communicative continuum critical to Lukumi devotion and practice.
The Relationship of White Blood Cell Count to Other Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Baseline data for the 12,866 men from the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial was used to study factors related to white blood cell (WBC) count. White blood cell count was significantly higher in smokers (7853 cells/mm3) and ex-smokers (7091 cells/mm3) who stopped smoking less than one year before than in ex-smokers who stopped more than one year before (6255 cells/mm3) and those who never smoked (6094 cells/mm3). In current cigarette smokers, white blood cell count was significantly related to number of cigarettes smoked, degree of inhalation, and duration of smoking (p less than 0.001 for each). In addition, white blood cell count was higher in non-cigarette smokers who smoked pipes, cigars, or cigarillos than among men who did not smoke tobacco (p less than 0.001). White blood cell count was lower in blacks (by 877 cells/mm3) and Orientals (by 634 cells/mm3) than in whites. Leukocyte count also showed a strong inverse association with high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, a positive association with triglycerides independent of cigarette use, and a positive association with low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol in smokers only. Leukocyte counts were inversely related to total family income and alcohol consumption. We conclude that elevated leukocyte count is independently associated with other risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) such as amount and duration of smoking as well as an atherogenic profile, and these relationships should be considered when using white blood cell count as a predictor of coronary heart disease.
Economic single phase to three phase converter topologies for fixed frequency output

Several component-minimized circuit topologies for single-phase to three-phase conversion are proposed. The proposed topologies employ fewer semiconductors devices and generate high-quality output voltages. A suitable modification to achieve an active input current shaping feature is illustrated in detail. Analysis and simulation of the proposed schemes are carried out to show the high-performance features. Suitable guidelines for the selection of filter components and to facilitate circuit design are presented. Selected results are verified experimentally on laboratory prototype converters. >
Magneto-optical imaging of vortex domain deformation in pinning sites

Abstract We use a sensitive magneto-optical microscopy technique to image the magnetization response of micron-scale ferromagnetic disks to changes in applied magnetic field. This differential technique relies on a modulated applied magnetic field which allows us to measure changes in magnetization 1 % with sub-micron resolution. The disks are magnetized in single vortex domains, with defects in the material serving to pin the vortex core at particular positions. By applying a small AC magnetic field, we measure the deformation of the magnetization while the core remains pinned. We can also characterize the strength of the pinning site by increasing the AC magnetic field to unpin the vortex core. While pinned, we find that the magnetization away from the core reorients slightly to better align with an applied field. Additionally, an applied field causes the pinned core itself to tilt in the direction of the field. Once the field is large enough to unpin the core, this tilt disappears, and the core instead translates across the disk.
Design of Voltage Overscaled Low-Power Trellis Decoders in Presence of Process Variations

In hardware implementations of many signal processing functions, timing errors on different circuit signals may have largely different importance with respect to the overall signal processing performance. This motivates us to apply the concept of unequal error tolerance to enable the use of voltage overscaling at minimal signal processing performance degradation. Realization of unequal error tolerance involves two main issues, including how to quantify the importance of each circuit signal and how to incorporate the importance quantification into signal processing circuit design. We developed techniques to tackle these two issues and applied them to two types of trellis decoders including Viterbi decoder for convolutional code decoding and max-log-maximum a posteriori (MAP) decoder for turbo code decoding. Simulation results demonstrated promising energy saving potentials of the proposed design solution on both trellis decoding computation and memory storage at small decoding performance degradation.
Using an Existential Form of Reflection to Understand My Transformation as a Teacher Educator

In 2002, I presented the paper “Bec(o/a)ming a teacher educator” at the Fourth International Conference on Self-Study of Teacher Education Practices (Feldman, 2002a). I called that paper a self-study, and in it I analyzed the narrative that I have told myself and others of my transition from teacher to teacher educator. I return to that paper in this chapter as a way to explore two questions that I have about self-study. While this chapter includes a self-study (Feldman, 2002a), my intention in writing it is to use it as a vehicle with which to examine the following two questions or concerns that I have about selfstudy as a scholarly activity.
Socioeconomic and Demographic Factors for Spousal Resemblance in Obesity Status and Habitual Physical Activity in the United States

Studies suggested that the married population has an increased risk of obesity and assimilation between spouses’ body weight. We examined what factors may affect married spouses’ resemblance in weight status and habitual physical activity (HPA) and the association of obesity/HPA with spouses’ sociodemoeconomic characteristics and lifestyles. Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data of 11,403 adult married couples in the US during years 2006–2008 were used. Absolute-scale difference and relative-scale resemblance indices (correlation and kappa coefficients) in body mass index (BMI) and HPA were estimated by couples’ socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. We found that spousal difference in BMI was smaller for couples with a lower household income, for who were both unemployed, and for older spouses. Correlation coefficient between spouses’ BMI was 0.24, differing by race/ethnicity and family size. Kappa coefficient for weight status (obesity: BMI ≥ 30, overweight: 30 > BMI ≥ 25) was 0.11 and 0.35 for HPA. Never-working women’s husbands had lower odds of obesity than employed women’s husbands (OR = 0.69 (95% CI = 0.53–0.89)). Men’s unemployment status was associated with wives’ greater odds of obesity (OR = 1.31 (95% CI = 1.01–1.71)). HPA was associated with men’s employment status and income level, but not with women’s. The population representative survey showed that spousal resemblance in weight status and HPA varied with socioeconomic and demographic factors.
The imposition of protocols over open distributed systems

In order to facilitate enforcement of protocols, an architecture for distributed systems is introduced under which all interactions between objects are governed by an explicit and strictly enforced set of rules, called the law of the system. This law is global in the sense that all the objects of the system are made to obey it, but the maintenance of the law and its enforcement are performed locally, at each object (or node). The term law is used to emphasized that it not only provides the specification of protocols, but actually governs the system by enforcing them. In other words, under this architecture a protocol can be established simply by writing it into the law of a system, without having to worry about the programs that drive the various objects that might populate that system. The law, then, is the enforced specification of protocols. It is shown that various familiar protocols can be established under this architecture. A technique for online distributed updating of the global law of a system is presented. >
HyScale: A hybrid optical network based scalable, switch-centric architecture for data centers

Data Center Network architectures (DCN) are evolving for increased scalability, performance, and low network complexity. In this paper, we propose HyScale, a switch-centric DCN architecture using hybrid optical networks. HyScale employs Optical Burst Switching and Optical Circuit Switching technologies for transmitting low and high volumes of data respectively in a data center. The proposed architecture is highly scalable, recursively defined, fault-tolerant, and has low network complexity. It also has a multitude of desirable graph-theoretic properties like high bisection width, and low diameter. By exploiting the structural properties of HyScale, we propose a highly efficient and simple routing scheme. In our experiments, the proposed routing scheme gives a lower packet loss ratio by an average of 23% as compared to the Shortest Path Routing with almost negligible increase in the length of the routes.
Modeling software testing processes

The production of a high quality software product requires application of both defect prevention and defect detection techniques. A common defect detection strategy is to subject the product to several phases of testing such as unit, integration, and system. These testing phases consume significant project resources and cycle time. As software companies continue to search for ways for reducing cycle time and development costs while increasing quality, software testing processes emerge as a prime target for investigation. The paper proposes the utilization of system dynamics models for better understanding testing processes. Motivation for modeling testing processes is presented along with a an executable model of the unit test phase. Some sample model runs are described to illustrate the usefulness of the model.
Joint Utility of Event-Dependent and Environmental Crime Analysis Techniques for Violent Crime Forecasting:

Violent crime incidents occurring in Irvington, New Jersey, in 2007 and 2008 are used to assess the joint analytical capabilities of point pattern analysis, hotspot mapping, near-repeat analysis, and risk terrain modeling. One approach to crime analysis suggests that the best way to predict future crime occurrence is to use past behavior, such as actual incidents or collections of incidents, as indicators of future behavior. An alternative approach is to consider the environment in which crimes occur and identify features of the landscape that would be conducive to crime. Thanks to advances in geographic information system technology and federally funded (free) software applications such as CrimeStat III or the Near Repeat Calculator, these methods have recently been made more accessible to “average” users. This study explores the information products that each method offers for the purposes of place-based violent crime forecasting and resource allocation. Findings help to answer questions about where, wh...
Environmental Analysis of Endocrine Disrupting Effects from Hydrocarbon Contaminants in the Ecosystem

This annual report summarizes the progress of three years of a three-year grant awarded to the Center for Bioenvironmental Research (CBR) at Tulane and Xavier Universities. The objective of this project is to determine how environmental contaminants, namely hydrocarbons, can act as hormones or anti-hormones in different species present in aquatic ecosystems. The three major areas of research include (1) a biotechnology based screening system to identify potential hormone mimics and antagonists; (2) an animal screening system to identify biomarkers of endocrine effects; and (3) a literature review to identify compounds at various DOE sites that are potential endocrine disruptors. Species of particular focus in this study are those which can serve as sentinel species (e.g., amphibians) and, thus, provide early warning signals for more widespread impacts on an ecosystem and its wildlife and human inhabitants. The focus of the literature research was to provide an analysis of the contaminants located on or around various Department of Energy (DOE) sites that are or have the potential to function as endocrine disruptors and to correlate the need for studying endocrine disruptors to DOE's programmatic needs. Previous research within the Center for Bioenvironmental Research at Tulane and Xavier Universities has focused on understanding the effects of environmental agents on the human and wildlife health and disease. In particular this research has focused on how exogenous agents can function to mimic or disrupt normal endocrine signaling, i.e. estrogen, thyroid within various systems from whole animal studies with fish, amphibians and insects to human cancer cell lines. Significant work has focused on the estrogenic and anti-estrogenic action of both synthetic organochlorine chemicals and naturally produced phytochemicals. Recent projects have extended these research objectives to examination of these environmental agents on the symbiotic relationship between nitrogen fixing rhizobial bacteria and leguminous plants. This research will form the foundation for future experiments into the genetic manipulation of plants to potentially promote greater or more specific symbiotic relationships between plant and Rhizobium allowing this biological phenomenon to be used in a greater number of crop types. Future technology developments could include the genetic engineering of crops suitable for in situ vadose zone 2 bioremediation (via microbes) and phytoremediation (through the crop, itself) in contaminated DOE sites.
Descent Graph Methods

Mapping disease and marker loci from pedigree phenotypes is one of the most computationally onerous tasks in modern biology. Even tightly optimized software can be quickly overwhelmed by the synergistic obstructions of missing data, multiple marker loci, multiple alleles per marker locus, and inbreeding. This unhappy situation has prompted mathematical and statistical geneticists to formulate alternatives to the Elston-Stewart algorithm. The most productive alternatives use elementary graph theory. The Lander-Green-Kruglyak algorithm alluded to in Chapter 7 exploits gene flow graphs and works well on small pedigrees. For large pedigrees, it is helpful to combine the graph theory perspective with stochastic methods of numerical integration [12, 23, 24, 32, 39, 40, 42].
Building an Institutional Capacity and Social Capital through Service Learning: Unique Challenges for an Urban Professional School

This paper reviews a project designed to challenge the rhetoric that midcareer students attending an urban professional school in an economically depressed area are too busy and face too many social and economic barriers to value a sense of community in the program. The project combines academic topics relevant to public affairs, primarily building institutional capacity and social capital as they relate to the broader study of public organizations. It also provides an innovative approach to service learning, in which both the student providers of the service and the recipient organization is the university, specifically the Master of Public Affairs program. A praxis framework for service learning in public affairs education is proposed that holds promise in meeting several key goals in equipping students to lead and manage public organizations.
Prospective evaluation of ambient operating room temperature on the core temperature of injured patients undergoing emergent surgery

Background Although uncomfortable for the operating team, trauma operating room (OR) temperatures have traditionally been kept warm in an attempt to mitigate intraoperative heat loss. The purpose of this study was to examine how ambient OR temperatures impact core temperature in patients undergoing emergent surgery for trauma. Methods Injured adult patients requiring emergent surgery at a Level 1 trauma center were prospectively enrolled between July 2008 and January 2010. Standardized warming measures were used for all patients. Ambient OR temperature was recorded in 5-minute intervals with the Fourier Microlog EC600 temperature data logger. Intraoperative core patient temperatures were compared with ambient OR temperature. Patients experiencing intraoperative core temperature decreases were compared with those who did not, to examine the impact of ambient temperature changes on the risk of perioperative hypothermia. Results During the 18-month study period, 118 patients requiring emergent surgery (73% laparotomy, 5% thoracotomy, 7% combined, 15% other) were enrolled. Incidence of hypothermia ( 35°C and as high as 50% for temperatures ≤32°C). Overall, core temperature decreased in 46 patients (39.0%) but remained stable or increased by the end of the procedure in 72 (61%). There were no significant differences in the admission temperature, clinical demographics, or volume of fluids and blood products between the two groups. In a forward logistic regression analysis, a lower ambient OR temperature was not associated with a drop in the patient's core temperature. Conclusion In this prospective study, the ambient OR temperature did not affect the core temperature of injured patients undergoing emergent surgery. Level of evidence Prognostic study, level III; therapeutic study, level IV.
Hostile Abdomen Index Risk stratification and laparoscopic complications.

BACKGROUND Common life-threatening complications associated with laparoscopy, including bleeding and inadvertent enterotomy, are described in the literature. We investigated the application of the Hostile Abdomen Index related to these complications. We hypothesize that the preoperative score may guide a surgeon in risk stratification. METHODS We used data from Monmouth Medical Center morbidity and mortality conferences and reviewed bleeding and enterotomy complications in laparoscopic abdominal surgery. Complications were tracked using the Hostile Abdomen Index compared between 2 periods: published early experience with laparoscopic surgery (1998-2003) and unpublished late experience (2004-2010). The index ascribes a number (1-4) before a laparoscope is inserted and another number (1-4) after the laparoscope is inserted into the abdomen. RESULTS From 1998 to 2010, 43 patients had bleeding complications (0.45%) and 28 had inadvertent enterotomies (0.29%). There was no difference in bleeding between the early and late experiences. Enterotomy complications decreased in the late experience (P < .001). Our rescue success was 97.2% over 13 years. Those laparoscopic cases with high preoperative scores (3-4) had a higher rate of conversion to open procedures. CONCLUSIONS The Hostile Abdomen Index can be used to track 2 potentially life-threatening laparoscopic complications. The index score has been explained to our surgeons on numerous occasions. A higher chance of bleeding and enterotomy or risk stratification correlates with a preoperative 3 or 4 score and may lead to a more cautious approach toward initial laparotomy or earlier conversion.
The Development of Algebraic Thinking A Vygotskian Perspective

Vygotsky asserted that the student who had mastered algebra had attained "a new higher plane of thought", a level of abstraction and generalization which transformed the meaning of the lower (arithmetic) level. He also affirmed the importance of the mastery of scientific concepts for the development of the ability to think theoretically, and emphasized the mediating role of semiotic forms and symbol systems in developing this ability. Although historically in mathematics and traditionally in education, algebra followed arithmetic, Vygotskian theory supports the reversal of this sequence in the service of orienting children to the most abstract and general level of understanding initially. This organization of learning activity for the development of algebraic thinking is very different from the introduction of elements of algebra into the study of arithmetic in the early grades. The intended theoretical (algebraic) understanding is attained through appropriation of psychological tools, in the form of specially designed schematics, whose mastery is not merely incidental to but the explicit focus of instruction. The author's research in implementing Davydov's Vygotskian-based elementary mathematics curriculum in the U.S. suggests that these characteristics function synergistically to develop algebraic understanding and computational competence as well. Kurzreferat: Vygotsky ging davon aus, dass Lernende, denen es gelingt, Algebra zu beherrschen, "ein hoheres gedankliches Niveau" erreicht hatten, eine Ebene von Abstraktion und Generalisierung, welche die Bedeutung der niederen (arithmetischen) Ebene verandert. Er bestatigte auch die Relevanz der Beherrschung von wissenschaftlichen Begriffen fur die Entwicklung der Fahigkeit, theoretisch zu denken und betonte dabei die vermittelnde Rolle von semiotischen Formen und Symbolsystemen fur die Ausformung dieser Fahigkeit. Obwohl mathematik-historisch und traditionell erziehungswissenschaftlich betrachtet, Algebra der Arithmetik folgte, stutzt Vygotski's Theorie die Umkehrung dieser Sequenz bei dem Bemuhen, Kinder an das abstrakteste und allgemeinste Niveau des ersten Verstehens heranzufuhren. Diese Organisation von Lernaktivitaten fur die Ausbildung algebraischen Denkens unterscheidet sich erheblich von der Einfuhrung von Algebra-Elementen in das Lernen von Arithmetik wahrend der ersten Schuljahre. Das beabsichtigte theoretische (algebraische) Verstehen wird erreicht durch die Aneignung psychologischer Mittel, und zwar in Form von dafur speziell entwickelten Schemata, deren Beherrschung nicht nur beilaufig erfolgt, sondern Schwerpunkt des Unterrichts ist. Die im Beitrag beschriebenen Forschungen zur Implementierung von Davydov's elementarmathematischen Curriculum in den Vereinigten Staaten, das auf Vygotsky basiert, legt die Vermutung nahe, dass diese Charakteristika bei der Entwicklung von algebraischem Verstehen und von Rechenkompetenzen synergetisch funktionieren.
Transnational Iranian entrepreneurs in the import/export industry of Los Angeles

Immigrants perform better in import/export industries than generally in independent business. The usual explanation addresses their overseas social networks. Extensive network connections abroad enable immigrants to reduce the daunting transaction costs that otherwise bedevil SMEs in international trade. Accepting that prevailing view, this research obtains evidence regarding the actual social network ties that Iranian immigrant entrepreneurs in Los Angeles had with trading partners abroad. However, instead of looking at connections between the Iranians and their homeland, we examined instead their social connections with other locations in the Iranian international diaspora. Although preliminary and sketchy, this evidence tends to confirm the importance of personal social contacts abroad, but it also shows that Iranian traders still reported many collection problems overseas and, as a result, had undertaken legal strategies of self-protection.
Bifunctional trehalose anode incorporating two covalently linked enzymes acting in series

A bienzymatic electrode incorporating trehalase (Tre) and glucose oxidase (GOx) covalently bound to the surface of Pt through a functionalized thiol linker (Tre|GOx|Pt) has been designed and assembled and its catalytic properties examined by chemical and electrochemical methods in aqueous phosphate buffer solutions (PBS, pH 7.4). Exposure of Tre|GOx|Pt to PBS containing trehalose (Tr) and subsequent polarization at 0.6 V versus Ag/AgCl yielded after a few minutes well-defined steady-state currents ascribed to the oxidation of hydrogen peroxide generated by the GOx-mediated oxidation of glucose (Gl) produced by the Tre-mediated dissociation of Tr. Plots of the steady-state currents versus [Tr] over the range examined, i.e., 5-25 mM, were found to be linear. Implications of these results toward the development of an implantable biofuel cell as an autonomous energy conversion device for insects are discussed.
Rifampin Resistance Mutations are Associated with Broad Chemical Remodeling of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Global control of tuberculosis has become increasingly complicated with the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. First-line treatments are anchored by two antibiotics, rifampin and isoniazid. Most rifampin resistance occurs through the acquisition of missense mutations in the rifampin resistance-determining region, an 81-base pair region encoding the rifampin binding site on the β subunit of RNA polymerase (rpoB). Although these mutations confer a survival advantage in the presence of rifampin, they may alter the normal process of transcription, thereby imposing significant fitness costs. Because the downstream biochemical consequences of the rpoB mutations are unknown, we used an organism-wide screen to identify the number and types of lipids changed after rpoB mutation. A new mass spectrometry-based profiling platform systematically compared ∼10,000 cell wall lipids in a panel of rifampin-resistant mutants within two genetically distinct strains, CDC1551and W-Beijing. This unbiased lipidomic survey detected quantitative alterations (>2-fold, p
E-112 endovascular coil embolization versus stent-assisted coil embolization of complex internal carotid artery aneurysms: long-term follow-up of treatment effectiveness

Introduction/purpose Compare the outcomes of coil embolization alone (CA) versus stent-assisted coil embolization (SAC) in aneurysms of internal carotid artery (ICA) with unfavorable anatomic characteristics. Materials and methods Institutional Review Board approval was obtained for this study. Retrospective review of the patient registry containing 767 patients with 1,170 aneurysms was performed. Inclusion criteria: 1. Previously untreated aneurysm internal carotid artery aneurysm 2. Complex morphology: Neck size of ≥4mm or a dome to neck ratio Results Patients characteristics and number of aneurysms treated did not differ significantly between the two groups. Aneurysm baseline characteristics in the two groups are similar except for significantly wide neck size in SAC group (CA: 4.4 ± 1.7 versus SAC: 5.5 ± 1.8, P = 0.003). No significant change between the study groups demonstrated for safety end-point (p = 0.99). In spite of similar effectiveness in both the CA and SAC groups at immediate post treatment phase (n = 18 (45%) vs. n = 18 (41.9%) respectively, P = 0.827) and at 6-months follow-up (n = 17 (58.6%) vs. n = 24 (70.6%) respectively, P = 0.428), patients in the SAC group shows significantly higher effectiveness (n = 13 (43.3%) vs. n = 26 (68.4%), P = 0.038, in the CA vs. SAC groups respectively) beyond 6 months. Conclusion Stent-assisted coil embolization in unruptured complex internal carotid artery aneurysms with an unfavorable anatomy offers a more effective long-term treatment option while having a similar safety profile to coil embolization alone. Disclosures S. Boddu: None. A. Banihashemi: None. P. Gobin: None. J. Knopman: None. A. Patsalides: None.
Molecular simulation of metal-ZnO contact in ZnO piezoelectric nanogenerator

A molecular dynamics model has been developed to study the interfacial sliding dynamics in piezoelectric nanogenerator in atomic force microscope experiment. The molecular system includes a vertical semiconductor ZnO (0001) nanowire supported by a substrate and a Pt (111) metal tip. Simulation results show that the dynamic process of the Pt (111) tip sliding over the (0001) top surface of the ZnO nanowire, from the tensile side to the compressive side of the nanowire due to its lateral bending, involves the shear off of one monolayer of Pt atoms and the subsequent relaxation of the Pt (111) surface. However, no atomic inter-penetration or material transfer between the metal tip and the semiconductor material was observed. The calculated piezoelectric potential distribution due to the polarization of nanowire under bending is similar to the result derived from the continuum theory approach.
A Bayesian Approach to Integrated Ecological and Human Health Risk Assessment for the South River, Virginia Mercury‐Contaminated Site

We conducted a regional-scale integrated ecological and human health risk assessment by applying the relative risk model with Bayesian networks (BN-RRM) to a case study of the South River, Virginia mercury-contaminated site. Risk to four ecological services of the South River (human health, water quality, recreation, and the recreational fishery) was evaluated using a multiple stressor-multiple endpoint approach. These four ecological services were selected as endpoints based on stakeholder feedback and prioritized management goals for the river. The BN-RRM approach allowed for the calculation of relative risk to 14 biotic, human health, recreation, and water quality endpoints from chemical and ecological stressors in five risk regions of the South River. Results indicated that water quality and the recreational fishery were the ecological services at highest risk in the South River. Human health risk for users of the South River was low relative to the risk to other endpoints. Risk to recreation in the South River was moderate with little spatial variability among the five risk regions. Sensitivity and uncertainty analysis identified stressors and other parameters that influence risk for each endpoint in each risk region. This research demonstrates a probabilistic approach to integrated ecological and human health risk assessment that considers the effects of chemical and ecological stressors across the landscape.
Sapropterin treatment does not enhance the health-related quality of life of patients with phenylketonuria and their parents

Aim Sapropterin causes reductions in blood phenylalanine concentrations in sensitive patients with phenylketonuria (PKU),. We examined whether the subsequent relaxation of dietary restrictions influenced the quality of life (QoL) of patients and parents. Methods The study cohort comprised 112 patients with PKU followed at the metabolic centre at Munster University Children's Hospital, Germany, from 2012 to 2015. A sapropterin response was defined as a ≥30% reduction in blood phenylalanine levels. The QoL of 38 children and adolescents from the study cohort, with a mean age of 12.4 (range 6.6-18.7) years, was assessed in an outpatient setting and 49 parents of children with PKU also commented on their child's QoL and their own. The participants’ QoL was assessed before the start of therapy, and again after six months, using self-report questionnaires. Results After six months of continuous therapy or diet, QoL was largely unchanged in the patients, according to their self-reports and the parental reports. QoL also remained unchanged in the parents. Conclusion Sapropterin did not seem to improve QoL in PKU patients and their parents. Patients with PKU had already reached high levels of QoL following classic diets and these levels were not easily improved by sapropterin. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Factors affecting bond development between Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) and steel bar reinforcement

Abstract The advent of Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) has led to strong interest in developing new structural applications for the material. While UHPC’s tensile and compression behaviors are relatively well understood, an in-depth analysis of UHPC’s behavior at the component level, specifically the bond strength between UHPC and steel bar reinforcement is lacking and the published data shows large scatter. In the presented study, a series of bar pull out tests was performed in order to characterize the bond strength of a non-proprietary UHPC blend. The tests were conducted using plain and epoxy-coated grade 60 bars with nominal diameters of 13 mm, 16 mm, and 19 mm. Other experimental parameters include three development lengths (50, 75 and 100 mm), two casting orientations (longitudinal and transverse to the steel bar reinforcement), two steel fiber volume contents (1% and 2%) and early age bond strength at 1, 3 and 7 days curing. Results from pull out testing show that bond strength decreases with increased embedment length suggesting a non-uniform distribution of bond strengths. Differences in steel fiber content yielded significant differences in bond strength of up to 36% when using 1% vs. 2% fiber volumes. Early age testing showed that 75% of compressive and bond strength in UHPC is developed within 7 days of casting.
Part II: Quantum mechanical prediction of heats of adsorption for C 2 -C 4 hydrocarbons in MOF-74-Mg/Zn periodic structures

Abstract Periodic boundary condition models are used to investigate the interaction of small hydrocarbons (C2-C4) with MOF-74-Mg/Zn. In contrast to other studies where molecular cluster approaches are used, the complete chemical environment of the framework is included. This allows correcting the binding energies for basis-set superposition error, molecular lateral interaction, zero-point energy, and thermal contributions. As such, the presented results are directly comparable to experimental calorimetric values. This work discusses, for the first time, the origin of the fictitious agreement between binding energies obtained with molecular clusters and experimental heats of adsorption, identifying its origin as due to compensation of errors.
Magnetic and velocity fluctuations from nonlinearly coupled tearing modes in the reversed field pinch with and without the reversal surface

We investigate the role of poloidal mode number m = 0 fluctuations on m = 1 velocity and magnetic field fluctuations in the Reversed Field Pinch (RFP). Removing the m = 0 resonant surface in the Madison Symmetric Torus (MST), results in suppressed m = 0 activity without a reduction in m = 1 magnetic activity. However, the m = 1 velocity fluctuations and fluctuation-induced mean emf are reduced as m = 0 modes are suppressed. Velocity fluctuations are measured directly using fast Doppler spectroscopy. Similar results are seen in visco-resistive MHD simulation with the DEBS code. An artificial line-averaged velocity diagnostic is developed for DEBS simulations to facilitate direct comparisons with experimental measurements. The sensitivity of the m = 1 velocity fluctuations and corresponding emf to changes in m = 0 mode activity is a feature of tearing modes in the nonlinear regime with a spectrum of interacting modes. These results have implications for RFP sustainment strategies and inform our understandin...
Low-Profile Two-Arm Inverted-L Antenna Design for Vehicular HF Communications

Design of an electrically small, low-profile vehicular on-the-move (OTM) wideband high frequency antenna with 24 kHz instantaneous-tuned bandwidth is discussed for near vertical incidence skywave (NVIS) communications. Improvement in performance is obtained by applying multiarming and offset feed antenna modifications. These allow for attaining the desired gain >−20 dBi at 3 MHz with a lower profile compared to traditional OTM 3 kHz bandwidth antennas. Specifically, the addition of the second arm improves the bandwidth, whereas NVIS gain is enhanced by offset feeding. The electrical dimensions of the proposed two-arm design over the platform are $\lambda /13 ~(\text {L}) \times \lambda /30 ~(\text {W}) \times \lambda /400$ (H) at the lowest frequency of operation. Antenna performance and achieved benefits under the condition of mechanical breakdown are also discussed. The scaled prototype of the proposed antenna mounted on a selected vehicular platform is built using additive manufacturing. Measurement results agree well with simulations thereby verifying the design procedure and all the discussed findings.
Intracranial Balloon Catheter for ICP and Pressure/Volume Monitoring

The monitoring of intracranial pressure (ICP) and the management of elevated levels of ICP may be of value. (Lundberg, 1960; Becker, et al., 1977) ICP monitoring, in turn, has given rise to a number of “second generation” determinations, based upon the raw ICP values. One such determination is the intracranial pressure/volume relationship, (AP/AV). This relationship is important in that it may be a more accurate indication of the intracranial compliance status than the simple ICP value.
Partitioning protein ParP directly links chemotaxis to biofilm dispersal in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The recent characterization of partitioning proteins in the localization of chemotaxis signal transduction systems was proposed to have broad implications for polarly-flagellated non-enterobacteriaceae gamma-proteobacteria. These studies showed that the loss of either partitioning protein resulted in equivalent reductions in swimming motility and chemotaxis protein localization and inheritance. However, the role of these chemotaxis partitioning proteins outside of Vibrio spp . remains untested. Our studies on the chemotaxis partitioning proteins in Pseudomonas aeruginosa revealed an unexpected role for the partitioning protein ParP. While the P. aeruginosaParC and ParP homologs are needed for wild type swimming motility, the loss of ParP results in a greater swimming defect compared to the parC mutant. Our studies revealed that the Par-like proteins directly interact with each other and the chemotaxis system, and ParP interacts with DipA. Deletion of dipA results in a similar defect in swimming motility as the parP mutant. ParP has an interdependence for polar cluster formation, but not localization, with both CheA and DipA, and CheA cluster formation is partially dependent on ParP. Due to the direct interactions and interdependence of cluster formation of ParP and DipA, and the similar phenotypes of the parP and dipA mutants, further investigation into the role of ParP in biofilm dispersion is warranted.