cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Support for New Policies to Regulate Firearms — Results of Two National Surveys

Background New policy options are emerging in the debate regarding the regulation of firearms in the United States. These options include the treatment of firearms as consumer products, the design of which can be regulated for safety; denial of gun ownership to those convicted of misdemeanors; and strategies to curtail the illegal sale of guns. The public's opinion of these innovative gun-policy options has not been thoroughly assessed. Methods We conducted two telephone surveys of 1200 adults each in the United States in 1996 and 1997–1998. Cognitive interviews and pretests were used in the development of the survey instruments. Potential participants were then contacted by random-digit dialing of telephone numbers. Results A majority of the respondents favored safety standards for new handguns. These standards included childproofing (favored by 88 percent of respondents), personalization (devices that permit firing only by an authorized person; 71 percent), magazine safeties (devices that prevent firing...
A Brunswikian Model for Body Image Research in Patients with Eating Disorders

Eating disorders have become a national healthl problem, particularly among adolescent girls. Of particular interest with these patienils is their inability to perceive themselves accurately. While many studies have addressed body image distortion, the cognitive process involved has remained elusive. Rather than study this individual process with a group comparisont ietehodology, Brunswik's lens model was employed. Patienits' individual cognitive models were explored prior to aggregating the data on a group level. Impor tant differ enices emerged between anorexic, bulimic, obese, anrd normal female's utilizatioin of available perceptual cues concerning self and other body sizes. All of the participants in the study demonstrated conzsistenti linear models for use of perceptual cue information. Group differenices emerged in relative emphasis placed on each cue. This luse of Brunswik's lens model represents a uniquie applicationi of the methodology that should prove inivalitable for-future studies of self-pe...
Tutorial 4: Robust System Design in Scaled CMOS

Summary form only given. The aim of this paper is to develop enabling technologies and tools spanning multiple abstraction levels to design globally optimized robust systems without incurring the high cost of traditional redundancy. An architecture-aware circuit design technique corrects radiation-induced soft errors in latches, flip-flops, and combinational logic at extremely low-cost compared to redundancy techniques. A new design technique, distinct from error detection, predicts failures before they actually create errors in system data and states. Circuit failure prediction is ideal for reliability mechanisms such as transistor aging and early-life failures, and can enable close to best-case design by minimizing traditional worst-case speed guardbands.
Influence of elementary student gender on teachers' perceptions of mathematics achievement

Mathematical skill level, classroom behavior, and effort of 512 students were rated by 15 third-grade teachers and 14 fifth-grade teachers. Of those students, 464 completed mathematics and reading achievement tests. Correlation and regression analyses were performed to measure the relationship between student gender and teacher perceptions of their mathematics proficiency. In both third and fifth grades, regression results showed that mathematics and reading achievement test scores, together with student effort, were significant predictors of teacher rating of student mathematics achievement. Gender was not a significant contributor in either grade. Similar results were found when students were split by general or special education. The findings suggest that the teachers did not consider student gender when rating the mathematics skill level of their students.
Inclusion body myositis masquerading as polymyositis: a case study.

Abstract Boon AJ, Stolp-Smith KA. Inclusion body myositis masquerading as polymyositis: a case study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2000;81:1123-6. A case of inclusion body myositis masquerading as unresponsive polymyositis is presented. A 56-year-old woman diagnosed with "biopsy-proven" polymyositis in 1991 was referred to our clinic in 1997 with progressive, painless weakness that was unresponsive to steroid therapy. Further evaluation, including electromyography and review of the original muscle biopsy specimen, found a diagnosis of inclusion body myositis, leading to a change in the patient's prognosis and management. Inclusion body myositis is frequently mistaken for polymyositis, despite the fact that it is now the most common inflammatory myopathy affecting people older than 50 years. The purpose of this report is to increase awareness of this disease, to enhance early diagnosis, and to ensure appropriate management. We discuss the clinical findings, pathogenesis, and physiatric management, as well as compare this disease with other idiopathic inflammatory myopathies. © 2000 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Expression of S-locus glycoprotein genes from Brassica oleracea and B. campestris in transgenic plants of self-compatible B. napus cv Westar

Self-compatible Brassica napus var ‘Westar’ was transformed with SLG, the S-locus-derived gene that encodes S-locus-specific glycoproteins (SLSG). Four allelic variants of SLG isolated from self-incompatible B. oleracea and B. campestris strains homozygous for different S alleles were used. We show that the transgenic plants synthesized SLSG with the same apparent charge, molecular weight, and antigenic properties as that produced by the corresponding self-incompatible strains from which the cloned SLG genes were isolated. In addition, transgene-encoded SLSG was detected specifically in the papillar cells of the stigma, and was correctly targeted to the papillar cell wall. However, SLSG was produced at reduced levels in transgenic plants relative to self-incompatible strains. The introduction of the SLG genes did not confer a self-incompatibility phenotype on the ‘Westar’ cultivar.
Membrane translocation assay based on proteolytic cleavage: application to diphtheria toxin T domain.

Abstract The function of diphtheria toxin translocation (T) domain is to transfer the catalytic domain across the endosomal membrane upon acidification. The goal of this study was to develop and apply an in vitro functional assay for T domain activity, suitable for investigation of structure–function relationships of translocation across lipid bilayers of various compositions. Traditionally, T domain activity in vitro is estimated by measuring either conductance in planar lipid bilayers or the release of fluorescent markers from lipid vesicles. While an in vivo cell death assay is the most relevant to physiological function, it cannot be applied to studying the effects of pH or membrane lipid composition on translocation. Here we suggest an assay based on cleavage of the N-terminal part of T domain upon translocation into protease-loaded vesicles. A series of control experiment was used to confirm that cleavage occurs inside the vesicle and not as the result of vesicle disruption. Translocation of the N-terminus of the T domain is shown to require the presence of a critical fraction of anionic lipids, which is consistent with our previous biophysical measurements of insertion. Application of the proposed assay to a series of T domain mutants correlated well with the results of cytotoxicity assay.
Spontaneous countercurrent imbibition and forced displacement characteristics of low-permeability, siliceous shale rocks

Abstract Enhanced oil production from naturally-fractured low-permeability reservoirs is challenging. Spontaneous countercurrent imbibition in such reservoirs is an important oil recovery mechanism and has been widely studied in the oil and gas industry. Nevertheless, complicated rock properties such as low permeability, wettability, and other factors controlling flow mechanisms make it difficult to understand the flow characteristics and to generalize expected recovery. Spontaneous countercurrent imbibition and forced displacement tests were completed using siliceous shale core plugs that have low permeability, relatively high porosity, and intermediate to oil-wet surfaces. Four brine formulations were examined: carbonated synthetic brine, acidic (pH of 3), neutral, and alkaline (pH of 12). The siliceous shale core used in this study is an intermediate to oil-wet rock as gauged from the oil recovery by spontaneous imbibition in the neutral pH brine. With pH-controlled synthetic brine, the final oil recovery increases; especially using high pH brine. This suggests that the wettability shifts to a condition of greater water-wetness and the residual oil saturation decreases by exposing the system to a high pH brine. In the simulation study, it is inferred that the oil recovery characteristics change by changing the capillary pressure characteristics and the interfacial tension.
Teaching CS1 with web applications and test-driven development

Teaching client/server web application development in CS1 can help increase student motivation without introducing a heavy curriculum footprint. This paper summarizes the author's experience teaching CS1 for several years using a web application focus. The use of an appropriate web API, good development environment, and Test-Driven Development methodology helps ensure student success.
Cyclic GMP metabolism in psoriasis: increased activity of soluble epidermal cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase and its modulation by calcium.

SUMMARY Soluble cyclic GMP-phosphodiesterase was measured in normal and psoriatic epidermis. The specific activity of the enzyme was increased almost four-fold in involved compared with normal epidermis, and two- to three-fold in involved compared with uninvolved epidermis. The enzyme activity from all three sources was inhibited by 40–50% by ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA). These results indicate that in addition to the reported enhanced capacity of psoriatic epidermis to generate cGMP, it has an increased ability to hydrolyse this nucleotide, although to a lesser degree than the augmentation found in soluble guanylate activity from psoriatic epidermis. These observations are compatible with the elevated steady-state levels of this nucleotide observed in the involved epidermis of psoriasis.
The relationship between structure and properties of crystalline, high‐melting polyhydrocarbons

Twenty-two α-olefin monomers with varying degrees and types of branching in the lateral group have been polymerized and the polymers characterized. In general, the closer the branching in the side chain is to the polyethylene trunk, the higher the degree of crystallinity and the crystalline melting point. The degree of branching and the symmetry of the branches also affects the melting point and crystallinity markedly. Relationships have been drawn between type and position of the branch and melting point.
Hydrophobically Modified Dendrimers as Inverse Micelles: Formation of Cylindrical Multidendrimer Nanostructures

Poly(propyleneimine) dendrimers with stearyl end groups are investigated as inverse micelles in toluene. While the initial dendrimers have a spherical structure with a collapsed core, solubilization of metal salt hydrate leads to the formation of cylindrical multidendrimer structures with swollen, metal-salt-filled dendrimer cores. The cylindrical structure can be deduced from the small-angle neutron (SANS) as well as from the X-ray scattering (SAXS) pair distance distribution function. While the neutron scattering leads to a two-step cross-sectional density profile, the X-ray scattering is sensitive only to the metal-salt-stained core. The gold salt inside the dendrimers was reduced to form colloidal particles, and upon reduction the cylindrical structure breaks up and spherical colloids are formed. The sizes are larger than would be expected if the gold salt loading of one dendrimer formed one particle, indicating that the ions from several dendrimers are combined. These dendrimer-stabilized metal collo...
Frequentist validity of posterior quantiles for a two-parameter exponential family

SUMMARY Berger & Bernardo's (1989) reference priors and Tibshirani (1989) priors are derived for distributions in Bar-Lev & Reiser's (1982) two-parameter exponential family when either the location or the scale parameter is of interest. The reference prior is shown to be a Tibshirani prior. Furthermore, conditions under which a Tibshirani prior is a higherorder matching prior are investigated. When both the parameters are of interest, it is also shown that the reference prior agrees with the prior matching the posterior and frequentist expansions based on the signed square root of log-likelihood ratio. The normal, inverse Gaussian, and gamma distributions are used to illustrate the results.
EFFECTS OF INDUCED MOOD ON RETRIEVAL OF PERSONAL EPISODIC AND SEMANTIC MEMORIES

Two experiments examined the effects of induced moods on memory retrieval. In the first experiment, subjects read statements which induce temporary elation or depression and then recalled specific personal memories. Subjects in the elated condition rated their memories significantly more pleasant than subjects experiencing a depressed mood. In a second experiment, subjects who had read elated or depressed statements gave single-word associates to each of 15 stimulus words. The mean ratings for the associate words produced by subjects in the elated condition were significantly more pleasant than those from depressed subjects.
MCNP-DSP: A neutron and gamma ray Monte carlo calculation of source-driven noise-measured parameters

Abstract The 252Cf-source-driven noise analysis measurement method was developed to determine the subcriticality and other properties of configurations of fissile material. The method provides measured parameters that can also be used for nuclear weapons identification, nuclear materials control and accountability, quality assurance, process monitoring, and verification of calculation models and cross section data used for criticality safety analyses. MCNP-DSP was developed to calculate the measured frequency analysis parameters, time analysis quantities such as autocorrelation and cross-correlation functions, and the time distribution of counts after 252Cf fission for both neutrons and/or gamma rays using continuous energy cross sections. MCNP-DSP can be used to validate calculational methods and cross section data sets with measured data from subcritical experiments. In most cases the frequency analysis parameters are more sensitive to cross section changes by as much as 1 or 2 orders of magnitude and thus may be more useful than comparisons of neutron multiplication factors for calculational validation. The use of MCNP-DSP model in place of point kinetics model to interpret subcritical experiments extends the usefulness of this measurement method to systems with much lower neutron multiplication factors. MCNP-DSP can also be used to determine the calculational bias in the neutron multiplication factor (a quantity which is essential to the criticality safety specialist) from in-plant subcritical experiments. This paper describes how MCNP-DSP calculates the measured parameters from the 252Cf-source-driven time and frequency analysis measurement.
Learnability of DNF with representation-specific queries

We study the problem of PAC learning the class of DNF formulas with a type of natural pairwise query specific to the DNF representation. Specifically, given a pair of positive examples from a polynomial-sized sample, we consider boolean queries that ask whether the two examples satisfy at least one term in common in the target DNF, and numerical queries that ask how many terms in common the two examples satisfy. We provide both positive and negative results for learning with these queries under both uniform and general distributions.For boolean queries, we show that the problem of learning an arbitrary DNF target under an arbitrary distribution is no easier than in the traditional PAC model. However, on the positive side, we show that under the uniform distribution, we can properly learn any DNF formula with O(log(n)) relevant variables, any DNF formula where each variable appears in at most O(log(n)) terms, and any DNF formula having at most 2O(√log(n)) terms. Under general distributions, we show that 2-term DNFs are efficiently properly learnable as are disjoint DNFs.For numerical queries, we show we can learn arbitrary DNF formulas under the uniform distribution; in the process, we give an algorithm for learning a sum of monotone terms from labeled data only. Numerical-valued queries also allow us to properly learn any DNF with O(log(n)) relevant variables under arbitrary distributions, as well as DNF having O(log(n)) terms, and DNF for which each example can satisfy at most O(1) terms.Other possible generalizations of the query include allowing the algorithm to ask the query for an arbitrary number of examples from the sample at once (rather than just two), or allowing the algorithm to ask the query for examples of its own construction; we show that both of these generalizations allow for efficient proper learnability of arbitrary DNF functions under arbitrary distributions.
Chemical vapor deposition of tungsten oxide

Crystalline and amorphous thin films of tungsten(VI) oxide can be prepared by chemical vapor deposition using a variety of volatile precursors below 500 °C. Deposition parameters for preparation of WO3 films from tungsten hexacarbonyl [W(CO)6], tungsten hexafluoride (WF6), tungsten ethoxides [W(OEt)x, x = 5, 6] and tetra(allyl)tungsten [W(η3-C3H5)4] are summarized. The electrochromic behavior of these films is comparable with that observed for WO3 films prepared by evaporation, sputtering and electrodeposition. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of chronic treatment with morphine, midazolam and both together on dynorphin(1-13) levels in the rat.

Abstract We have recently reported that midazolam, a benzodiazepine receptor agonist that is also a short acting anesthetic and analgesic drug, can produce analgesia and decrease morphine tolerance and dependence in the rat by interacting with the opioidergic system. This study was designed to investigate the chronic effect of midazolam and/or morphine on the levels of dynorphin(1–13) in the pituitary gland, different brain regions, spinal cord and peripheral tissues of the rat. Four sets of animals were used: (I) saline-saline; (II) midazolam (0.03, 0.3 or 3.0 mg/kg, body wt., i.p.)-saline; (III) saline-morphine (10.0 mg/kg, body wt., s.c.); and (IV) midazolam-morphine (0.03, 0.3 or 3.0 mg/kg midazolam+10.0 mg/kg morphine) groups. The first saline or midazolam injection was given i.p. and after 30 min, the second injection of saline or morphine was given s.c. daily for 11 days. Animals were sacrificed on the 11th day, 60 min after the last injection and dynorphin(1–13) was measured in indicated tissues by radioimmunoassay method. The midazolam treated animals showed a significant decrease in dynorphin(1–13) levels in the cortex, cerebellum, cervical region of spinal cord, heart and adrenals, and a significant increase in the hypothalamus, striatum and lumbar region of the spinal cord. The morphine treated animals showed a significant decrease in dynorphin(1–13) levels in the pituitary gland, hypothalamus, hippocampus, striatum, cerebellum, pons, medulla, kidneys, adrenals and spleen, and a significant increase only in the lumbar region of the spinal cord. When both drugs were injected together there was no effect on pituitary gland, kidneys and spleen. These drugs antagonize each other's effect on dynorphin(1–13) in the hypothalamus, striatum, cerebellum, pons, medulla and heart. However, the midazolam-morphine combination significantly increases dynorphin(1–13) levels in the hippocampus, cortex, midbrain, cervical and lumbar regions of the spinal cord, and adrenals. These results suggest the involvement of dynorphin(1–13) in the inhibition of morphine-induced tolerance and dependence by midazolam in the rat. These results may also help us in understanding the intrinsic mechanisms involved in narcotic tolerance and dependence. © 1997 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Enzymic properties of an alkaline chelator-resistant α-amylase from an alkaliphilic Bacillus sp. isolate L1711

Abstract An alkaliphilic amylase producing bacterium, Bacillus sp. strain L1711, was selected from 13 soda lakes isolates. When grown at pH 10.5 and 37 °C, strain L1711 produced multiple forms of amylases in the culture broth. One of these, BAA, was purified from the culture supernatant by QAE column chromatography and preparative native gel electrophoresis. The molecular weight of BAA was determined to be 51 kDa by SDS gel electrophoresis. The pH optima for activity below and above 40 °C were 9.5–10.0 and 7.0–7.5, respectively. BAA was stable in the pH range 6–11 and was completely inactivated at 55 °C. Thermostability was not increased in the presence of Ca2+. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by Ca2+, Zn2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Ba2+ and Cu2+, whereas the presence of Na+, Co2+ and EDTA (10 mM) enhanced enzymic activity. The Km and specific activity of BAA on soluble starch were 1.9 mg/ml and 18.5 U/mg, respectively.
Single-dose methotrexate: an expanded clinical trial.

Objective: Our purpose was to report an expanded clinical trial with a nonlaparoscopic approach to ectopic pregnancy diagnosis combined with single-dose intramuscular methotrexate treatment. Study Design: A prospective cohort of 120 women with an ectopic pregnancy ≤ 3.5 cm in greatest dimension was enrolled. Results: Patients had a mean age of 26.1 ± 6.2 years, a mean gravidity of 3.2 ± 1.6, and a mean parity of 0.97 ± 1.0. The mean human chorionic gonadotropin titer before treatment initiation was 3950 ± 1193 mlU/ml. Transvaginal ultrasonography visualized cardiac activity in 14 (11.7%) patients, with an ectopic mass visualized in 113 (94.2%). The mean time to resolution in the 113 (94.2%) subjects successfully treated was 35.5 ± 11.8 days. Four (3.3%) patients required a second methotrexate dose on day 7. No biochemical or clinical side effects occurred. Posttreatment hysterosalpingograms demonstrated tubal patency on the ipsilateral side in 51 of 62 (82.3%) patients. Of those attempting pregnancy, 79.6% were pregnant, 87.2% intrauterine and 12.8% ectopic. The mean time to achieve pregnancy was 3.2 ± 1.1 months. Conclusions: This regimen requires minimal laboratory follow-up and eliminates leukovorin recovery, making it the regimen of choice for medical treatment of unruptured ectopic pregnancy.
Sentence comprehension in children with specific language impairment: the role of phonological working memory

This study examined the influence of phonological working memory on sentence comprehension in children with specific language impairment (SLI). Fourteen children with SLI and 13 with normal languag...
Freshwater mussel shells as environmental chronicles: geochemical and taphonomic signatures of mercury-related extirpations in the North Fork Holston River, Virginia.

This study utilized freshwater mussel shells to assess mercury (Hg) contamination in the North Fork Holston River that extirpated (caused local extinctions of) a diverse mussel fauna. Shells (n = 366) were collected from five sites situated upstream (two sites), just below (one site), and downstream (two sites) of the town of Saltville, Virginia, where Hg was used to produce chlorine and caustic soda from 1950 to 1972. Shell samples were used to test the (1) utility of geochemical signatures of shells for assessing the spatial variation in Hg levels in the river relative to the contamination source and (2) value of taphonomy (post-mortem shell alteration) for distinguishing sites that differ in extirpation histories. Geochemical signatures of 40 shells, analyzed using atomic absorption spectroscopy, indicated a strong longitudinal pattern. All shells from the two upstream sites had low Hg concentrations (<5−31 μg/kg), shells directly below Saltville had variable, but dramatically higher concentrations (23−4637 μg/kg), and shells from the two downstream sites displayed intermediate Hg levels (<5−115 μg/kg) that declined with distance from Saltville. Two pre-industrial shells, collected at Saltville in 1917, yielded very low Hg estimates (5−6 μg/kg). Hg signatures were consistent among mussel species, suggesting that Hg concentrations were invariant to species type; most likely, highly variable Hg levels, both across sites and through time, overwhelmed any interspecific differences in Hg acquisition. Also, a notable post-mortem incorporation of Hg in mussel shells seemed unlikely, as the Hg content was not correlated with shell taphonomy (r = 0.18; p = 0.28). The taphonomic analysis (n = 366) showed that the degree of shell alteration reliably distinguished sites with different extirpation histories. At Saltville, where live mussels have been absent for at least 30 years, shells were most heavily altered and fragmented. Conversely, fresh-looking shells abounded upstream, where reproducing mussel populations are still present. In summary, relic shells offered valuable spatio-temporal data on Hg concentrations in a polluted ecosystem, and shell taphonomic signatures discriminated sites with different extirpation histories. The shell-based strategies exemplified here do not require sampling live specimens and may augment more standard strategies applied to environmental monitoring. The approach should prove especially useful in areas with unknown extirpation and pollution histories.
Demographics, Practices, and Water Quality from Domestic Potable Rainwater Harvesting Systems

In semi-arid regions experiencing rapid population growth, rainwater harvesting is becoming increasingly important. Roof-collected rainwater is the exclusive water source for many households worldwide. Improper collection, storage or treatment of rainwater can result in adverse health effects. This study surveys rainwater harvesting practices and examines water quality from these systems. At 36 households, stored ‘pre-filtration’ rainwater and ‘post-filtration’ water from the kitchen faucet used for drinking and cooking were sampled. Rainwater harvesters desire to conserve water and believe that rainwater is more healthful than surface or groundwater. Almost 95% of homeowners use filtration and purification devices, but 64% have never tested their water. Coliform bacteria were not found in any post-filtration water, but some pre-filtration water samples were high in total heterotrophic bacteria. Lead levels exceeded the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) standard of 15 μg L−–1 in 25% of pre-filtration samples and 6% of post-filtration samples. First-flush diversion devices significantly decreased the likelihood of pre-filtration lead levels above 15 μg L−1. Aluminium, copper and iron exceeded USEPA recommended levels in a small percentage of homes. Although water from roof-collected rainwater harvesting systems was generally within drinking water standards, regular testing should be encouraged to avoid potential health problems.
Spectral, intensive, and temporal factors influencing overshoot.

Threshold was measured for a 10-msec, 4.0-kHz signal presented near the onset or in the temporal centre of a 400-msec noise masker. Overshoot, the difference (in dB) between these two thresholds, was seen only for masker bandwidths wider than a critical band. The threshold near masker onset, and hence overshoot, could be reduced by the presence of an additional noise that was presented continuously or gated on and off prior to masker onset. The spectral, intensive, and temporal properties of this effect were studied. When the additional noise was continuous and either bandpass filtered with a variable bandwidth or notch filtered with a variable notchwidth, the results indicated that energy both near and remote from the signal frequency contributed to the reduction in overshoot. The effect of this additional noise was highly dependent upon its relative level. When the additional noise was 400 msec in duration and the delay between its offset and the onset of the masker was varied, overshoot “recovered” to ...
Highly accurate children's speech recognition for interactive reading tutors using subword units

Speech technology offers great promise in the field of automated literacy and reading tutors for children. In such applications speech recognition can be used to track the reading position of the child, detect oral reading miscues, assessing comprehension of the text being read by estimating if the prosodic structure of the speech is appropriate to the discourse structure of the story, or by engaging the child in interactive dialogs to assess and train comprehension. Despite such promises, speech recognition systems exhibit higher error rates for children due to variabilities in vocal tract length, formant frequency, pronunciation, and grammar. In the context of recognizing speech while children are reading out loud, these problems are compounded by speech production behaviors affected by difficulties in recognizing printed words that cause pauses, repeated syllables and other phenomena. To overcome these challenges, we present advances in speech recognition that improve accuracy and modeling capability in the context of an interactive literacy tutor for children. Specifically, this paper focuses on a novel set of speech recognition techniques which can be applied to improve oral reading recognition. First, we demonstrate that speech recognition error rates for interactive read aloud can be reduced by more than 50% through a combination of advances in both statistical language and acoustic modeling. Next, we propose extending our baseline system by introducing a novel token-passing search architecture targeting subword unit based speech recognition. The proposed subword unit based speech recognition framework is shown to provide equivalent accuracy to a whole-word based speech recognizer while enabling detection of oral reading events and finer grained speech analysis during recognition. The efficacy of the approach is demonstrated using data collected from children in grades 3-5, namely 34.6% of partial words with reasonable evidence in the speech signal are detected at a low false alarm rate of 0.5%.
Ambiguities of arrival-time distributions in quantum theory

We consider the definition that might be given to the time at which a particle arrives at a given place, both in standard quantum theory and also in Bohmian mechanics. We discuss an ambiguity that arises in the standard theory in three, but not in one, spatial dimension.
Apellicon: a web-based tool for constructing and curating Textpresso databases.

As more research literature in the biological sciences is made available in electronic format, text mining systems are increasingly being used to improve the ability of investigators to retrieve relevant information. Through the use of advanced indexing techniques that utilize biological ontologies, semantic databases, and other formal representations of biological concepts text mining systems have been able to effectively parse biological literature. While text mining systems are increasingly effective at creating the linkages required to provide context-specific search results, the systems themselves are difficult to set up and use by novice computer users due to the highly technical nature of the applications. Because most researchers in the biological sciences do not have a strong computer science background we have focused on improving the quality of existing, proven text mining systems by implementing a web-based GUI that greatly improves the workflow of these systems. Textpresso in particular has an excellent web-based interface for searching literature but does not have an easy to use administrative interface. We developed the Apellicon interface to enable a wide range of users to build and manage a Textpresso database. An important feature of Apellicon is that it can enable groups to collaborate in building a Textpresso database.
The vertical drift chamber as a high resolution focal plane detector for heavy ions

Abstract A vertical drift chamber in the focal plane of a magnetic spectrometer has been tested with 12 C(129 MeV), 14 N(176 MeV) and 16 O (140 MeV) ions. An experimental position resolution of ≤ 0.5 mm was measured,corresponding to an intrinsic detector resolution of about 0.1 mm (fwhm). The angle of the ion trajectory with respect to the focal plane was measured to within ∼ 10 mrad, which corresponds to an intrinsic detector resolution of about 7 mrad. The angle measuring capability of the counter permits the measurement of angular distributions across the spectrometer opening and the correction of the counter data for magnet aberrations. Details of the electronics and gas handling systems and the detector performance with heavy ions are presented.
Why it doesn’t matter to metaphysics what Mary learns

The Knowledge Argument of Frank Jackson has not persuaded physicalists, but their replies have not dispelled the intuition that someone raised in a black and white environment gains genuinely new knowledge when she sees colors for the first time. In what follows, we propose an explanation of this particular kind of knowledge gain that displays it as genuinely new, but orthogonal to both physicalism and phenomenology. We argue that Mary’s case is an instance of a common phenomenon in which something new is learned as the result of exploiting representational resources that were not previously exploited, and that this results in gaining genuinely new information.
Comment on "Quantum-mechanical interpretation of the exchange-correlation potential of Kohn-Sham density-functional theory"

We interpret the exchange-correlation potential of Kohn-Sham density-functional theory to be the work required to move an electron against the electric field of its Fermi-Coulomb hole charge distribution. We substantiate this interpretation in the exchange-only approximation by proving the satisfaction of a necessary condition as well as by application to few-electron atomic and many-electron metallic surface systems. This interpretation also provides insights into the exact Slater exchange potential.
First-principles prediction of phase stability and crystal structures in Li-Zn and Na-Zn mixed-metal borohydrides

We use a combination of first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations and the recently developed prototype electrostatic ground state (PEGS) method to predict low-energy crystal structures and study phase stability of Li-Zn and Na-Zn mixed-metal borohydride compounds [i.e., NaZn(BH${}_{4}$)${}_{3}$, NaZn${}_{2}$(BH${}_{4}$)${}_{5}$, LiZn(BH${}_{4}$)${}_{3}$, and LiZn${}_{2}$(BH${}_{4}$)${}_{5}$]. We find the following: (i) DFT $+$ PEGS successfully predicts low-energy structures in these mixed-metal borohydride systems. (ii) DFT calculations show negative mixing energies in both the Li-Zn and Na-Zn borohydride systems, consistent with the observation of mixed-metal ordering in these systems. (iii) Our DFT calculations of the recently reported experimental crystal structures of NaZn${}_{2}$(BH${}_{4}$)${}_{5}$ and NaZn(BH${}_{4}$)${}_{3}$ show that the former has a negative mixing energy, while the latter has a positive mixing energy. (iv) Using the PEGS approach, we predict a new crystal structure of NaZn(BH${}_{4}$)${}_{3}$ with negative mixing energy and find that the experimental structure of NaZn${}_{2}$(BH${}_{4}$)${}_{5}$ and the PEGS obtained structure of NaZn(BH${}_{4}$)${}_{3}$ lie on the ground state convex hull. (v) In the Li-Zn borohydride system, we have used the PEGS $+$ DFT approach to predict a stable crystal structure of new, previously unobserved stoichiometry, LiZn(BH${}_{4}$)${}_{3}$. As a consequence of this predicted low-energy compound, DFT calculations of the experimentally reported structure of LiZn${}_{2}$(BH${}_{4}$)${}_{5}$ show that it is unstable with respect to decomposition into LiZn(BH${}_{4}$)${}_{3}$ $+$ Zn(BH${}_{4}$)${}_{2}$. (vi) In addition, we also elucidate the ground state crystal structure of NaBH${}_{4}$, and confirm that reorientation of (BH${}_{4}$)${}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ units is the driving force behind the order-disorder phase transition in NaBH${}_{4}$. (vii) Finally, we predict a new low-energy crystal structure of Zn(BH${}_{4}$)${}_{2}$, and illustrate its similarities with the crystal structure of Mg(BH${}_{4}$)${}_{2}$.
The Lorentz-Lorenz correction

Abstract The Ericson-Ericson Lorentz-Lorenz correction in the propagation of pions in matter is derived in a relativistic theory for general pion frequency and wave vector, in terms of the nucleon-nucleon pair correlation function. The relation to the electromagnetic Lorentz-Lorenz correction is described. It is shown that ρ-meson exchange between nucleons can be expected to give contributions to the Lorentz-Lorenz correction comparable to those from π-mesons. The precise magnitude of the ρ-contributions depends sensitively on the detailed behaviour of the two-body correlation function, since the range of the interaction through ρ-exchange is comparable to that of the repulsive correlations.
Synthesis and antihormonal properties of novel 11β-benzoxazole-substituted steroids.

Abstract Early studies led to the identification of 11β-aryl-4′,5′-dihydrospiro[estra-4,9-diene-17β,4′-oxazole] analogs with potent and more selective antiprogestational activity compared to antiglucocorticoid activity than mifepristone. In the present study, we replaced the 4′-dimethylaminophenyl group of mifepristone with the benzoxazol group to give 5a–d. We also prepared the 17β-formamido analogs 6a,b using a new synthetic strategy via the intermediate epoxide 21. These compounds were evaluated for their antagonist hormonal properties using the T47D cell-based alkaline phosphatase assay and the A549 cell-based functional assay. Compound 5c showed potent antagonist activity at GR with better selectivity for GR versus PR than mifepristone and is a promising lead for further development.
Identification of single bacterial cells in aqueous solution using confocal laser tweezers Raman spectroscopy.

We report on a rapid method for reagentless identification and discrimination of single bacterial cells in aqueous solutions using a combination of laser tweezers and confocal Raman spectroscopy (LTRS). The optical trapping enables capturing of individual bacteria in aqueous solution in the focus of the laser beam and levitating the captured cell well off the cover plate, thus maximizing the excitation and collection of Raman scattering from the cell and minimizing the unwanted background from the cover plate and environment. Raman spectral patterns excited by a near-infrared laser beam provide intrinsic molecular information for reageatless analysis of the optically isolated bacterium. In our experiments, six species of bacteria were used to demonstrate the capability of the confocal LTRS in the identification and discrimination between the diverse bacterial species at various growth conditions. We show that synchronized bacterial cells can be well-discriminated among the six species using principal comp...
Synthesis of Electroactive Polystyrene Derivatives Para-Substituted with π-Conjugated Oligothiophene via Postgrafting Functionalization

Two electroactive polystyrene derivatives para- substituted with π-conjugated oligothiophene, poly(5-hexyl-5″-(4-vinylphenyl)-2,2′:5′,2″-terthiophene) (PH3TS), and poly(5-hexyl-5″″-(4-vinylphenyl)-2,2′:5′,2″:5″,2″′:5″′,2″″-quinquethiophene) (PH5TS) have been successfully synthesized via the Stille coupling reaction between tributyltin postfunctionalized poly(4-(2-thiophenyl)styrene) (PTS) and bromo-oligothiophene. The effect of the chain length of the pendant oligothiophenes on properties of the resulting polymers including solubility, thermal stability, optical absorption, and electroactivation energy levels has been studied by using a variety of techniques such as thermogravimetric analyzer, differential scanning calorimetry, UV–Vis, Fluorescence, and cyclic voltammetry. With shielding of the hexyl terminal groups attached to the pendant oligothiophene units, no obvious chain aggregation was observed for both PH3TS and PH5TS even in a poor solvent environment. When compared with conventional linear conjugated polymer systems, the concept of grafting electroactive units as pendant side chains via postfunctionalizing aliphatic polymers might offer a strategy to precisely synthesize new electroactive polymer materials for a number of organic electronic applications. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011
Reinvigorating the Study of Foreign Policy Decision Making: Toward a Constructivist Approach

For many years, the study of foreign policy analysis (FPA) has been a kind of free-floating enterprise, logically unconnected to the main theories of international relations (IR). Sometimes, it has been subsumed under the liberal or pluralist sections of textbooks, and at other times placed within a discussion of realism. But the logical connections to both of these paradigms were always strained. The appeal of FPA approaches has also waxed and waned over the years, in part because these approaches do not appear to “fit” anywhere within the framework of the larger debates going on in IR. This article suggests that a dialogue with social constructivism provides the most logical base from which to launch a revitalized approach to FPA, especially the cognitive psychological approach to the study of foreign policy. If the FPA agenda is to be reinvigorated and taken more seriously outside the subfield itself, this article suggests, it must hitch its wagon to some of the critical substantive debates going on in IR theory today. Indeed, there are already some signs that the cognitive approach to FPA in particular is increasingly being associated with this larger body of theory.
A binuclear vanadium oxyfluoride: di-μ-oxido-bis-[(2,2'-bipyrid-yl)fluorido-oxidovanadium(V)].

The title compound, [V2F2O4(C10H8N)2], is a centrosymmetric binuclear vanadium(V) species with the metal ions in a distorted octa­hedral environment. The coordination geometries of the symmetry-equivalent VV atoms are defined by cis-terminal fluoride and oxide groups, unsymmetrically bridging oxide groups and the N-atom donors of the bipyridyl ligand. The crystal packing is stabilized by weak inter­molecular C—H⋯O and C—H⋯F hydrogen bonds.
Dynamically balancing a binary tree (abstract)

A binary tree is an excellent structure for storing sorted data. Searching is optimum if the tree is balanced. The following algorithm was developed with the help of some background information. This algorithm has proven to be an effective method of inserting data into a tree while dynamically rebalancing the tree when necessary.
Response to Open Peer Commentaries on “Addressing Dual Agency: Getting Specific About the Expectations of Professionalism”

If these responses are any indication, others feel the challenge I was trying highlight. Dual agency is a real problem with no clear solution in our current paradigms. Wisdom we seek, but it evades...
Flow injection determination of methionine with amperometric detection at a stable modified electrode

A glassy carbon electrode that is modified by electrodeposition of a film comprising mixed valence ruthenium oxide stabilized by cyano crosslinlks catalyzes the oxidation of methionine at 0.92 V vs. Ag/AgCl. A linear calibration curve is obtained for flow injection amperometry over the range 0.6–180 μM with a 0.2 M K2SO4 carrier at pH 2, a 7.5 μL sample volume, and a 1.0 mL/min flow rate. The sensitivity is 20 ± 0.3 nA/μM at a 0.07 cm2 electrode. With a single surface preparation, the sensitivity of the method remains constant over more than 3 weeks with daily use. The method also was used with carriers of the composition of common liquid chromatographic eluents such as various citrate–phosphate mixtures and a 0.1 M chloroacetic acid solution at pH 3.0 in 1% acetonitrile.
Toward an Understanding of the Constitution of Consciousness Through the Laws of Affect

Abundant evidence, often ignored in discussions of cognitive consciousness, is that raw affective experiences arise from diverse subcortical emotional, motivational (body homeostatic), and primal sensory systems (e.g., taste and smell). These primary-process affective systems that generate diverse types of valenced feelings may not be well described by the common synonym for consciousness called “awareness,” which is a better descriptor for higher forms of consciousness—namely, knowing that you experience. What a subcortical affective consciousness offers for our understanding of the mind is a primal form of phenomenal experience, which may be the foundation for the rest of the mind. From a neuropsychoanalytic perspective, Mark Solms advances a thesis for understanding the ancestral sources of mind that is consistent with data on cross-species emotional systems of all mammalian brains.
Application of the Lie group transformations to nonlinear dynamical systems

This paper describes the theory of Lie group operators in a form suitable for the applied dynamics community. In particular, it is adapted to analyzing the dynamic behavior of nonlinear systems in the presence of different resonance conditions. A key ingredient of the theory is the Hausdorff formula, which is found to be implicitly reproduced in most averaging techniques during the transformation process of the equations of motion. The method is applied to examine the nonlinear modal interaction in a coupled oscillator representing a double pendulum. The system equations of motion are reduced to their simplest (normal) form using operations with the linear differential operators according to Hausdorff's formula. Based on the normal form equations, different types of resonance regimes are considered. It is shown that the energy of the parametrically excited first mode can be regularly (or nonregularly) shared with the other mode due to the internal resonance condition. If the second mode is parametrically excited, its energy is localized and is not transferred to the first mode, even in the presence of internal resonance.