cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Real-time, Robust and Adaptive Universal Adversarial Attacks Against Speaker Recognition Systems

Voice user interface (VUI) has become increasingly popular in recent years. Speaker recognition system, as one of the most common VUIs, has emerged as an important technique to facilitate security-required applications and services. In this paper, we propose to design, for the first time, a real-time, robust, and adaptive universal adversarial attack against the state-of-the-art deep neural network (DNN) based speaker recognition systems in the white-box scenario. By developing an audio-agnostic universal perturbation, we can make the DNN-based speaker recognition systems to misidentify the speaker as the adversary-desired target label, with using a single perturbation that can be applied on arbitrary enrolled speaker’s voice. In addition, we improve the robustness of our attack by modeling the sound distortions caused by the physical over-the-air propagation through estimating room impulse response (RIR). Moreover, we propose to adaptively adjust the magnitude of perturbations according to each individual utterance via spectral gating. This can further improve the imperceptibility of the adversarial perturbations with minor increase of attack generation time. Experiments on a public dataset of 109 English speakers demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed attack. Our attack method achieves average 90% attack success rate on both X-vector and d-vector speaker recognition systems. Meanwhile, our method achieves 100 × speedup on attack launching time, as compared to the conventional non-universal attacks.
Particularized conversational implicatures and miraculous communication

Abstract I argue that Grice's account of particularized conversational implicatures makes successful implicatures miraculous. Successful conversational implicatures satisfy three conditions. The first is Calculability, that implicatures are able to be calculated. The second is Grasped Content, that the hearer work out the implicature as intended by the speaker. The third is Inferential Path Sameness, that the speaker and hearer work out the implicated proposition from the similar reasons. Many implicatures satisfying these conditions in the actual world fail to do so in a wide range of nearby possible worlds. Operationalizing ‘miraculous communication’ by the modal interpretation of lucky outcomes, communication by particularized implicatures is miraculous.
Checkpoint Kinase 2 Controls Insulin Secretion and Glucose Homeostasis

Although amino acids (AAs) have been used to potentiate insulin secretion both in vitro and in patients, the molecular mechanism controlling AA-stimulated insulin secretion has been controversial. Using an unbiased phosphoproteomics approach, we unraveled a previously unknown role of CHEK2 in insulin secretion. Both arginine and lysine reduce CHEK2 phosphorylation. Pharmacological inhibition of CHEK2 increases glucosestimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) of human β cell line, healthy and type 2 diabetic (T2D) human islets, and primary cynomolgus macaque islets in vitro. More excitingly, in vivo pharmacological inhibition of CHEK2 in both diabetic mouse models and cynomolgus macaques increases GSIS and improves glucose tolerance. Genetic ablation of CHEK2 in human β cells also leads to increased insulin secretion in normal and lipotoxic environment. Consistently, high-fat-diet fed Chk2-/- mice show an increase in insulin secretion and improvement in glucose clearance when compared with wildtype mice. Finally, an untargeted metabolic profiling analysis shows that CHEK2 controls insulin secretion by regulating pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) and NADPH/NADP ratio. Together, we identified a conserved CHEK2/PPP axis which regulates insulin secretion of rodent, cynomolgus macaque and human β cells in both healthy and T2D conditions.
Mapping of a novel major effect Hessian fly field partial-resistance locus in southern soft red winter wheat line LA03136E71

Hessian fly resistance has centralized around resistance loci that are biotype specific. We show that field resistance is evident and controlled by a single locus on chromosome 7D. Hessian flies (Mayetiola destructor Say) infest and feed upon wheat (Triticum aestivum L) resulting in significant yield loss. Genetically resistant cultivars are the most effective method of Hessian fly management. Wheat breeders in the southern USA have observed cultivars exhibiting a “field resistance” to Hessian fly that is not detectable by greenhouse assay. The resistant breeding line “LA03136E71” and susceptible cultivar “Shirley” were crossed to develop a population of 200 random F4:5 lines using single seed descent. The population was evaluated in a total of five locations in North Carolina during the 2019, 2020, and 2021 seasons. A subsample of each plot was evaluated for the total number of tillers, number of infested tillers, and total number of larvae/pupae. From these data, the percent infested tillers, number of larvae/pupae per tiller, and the number of larvae/pupae per infested tiller were estimated. In all within and across environment combinations for all traits recorded, the genotype effect was significant (p < 0.05). Interval mapping identified a single large effect QTL distally on the short arm of chromosome 7D for all environment-trait combinations. This locus was identified on a chromosome where no other Hessian fly resistance/tolerance QTL has been previously identified. This novel Hessian fly partial-resistance QTL is termed QHft.nc-7D. Fine mapping must be conducted in this region to narrow down the causal agents responsible for this trait, and investigation into the mode of action is highly suggested.
Stability of two-variable interval polynomials via positivity

Abstract Stability criteria are proposed for two–variable (2D) polynomials having interval parameters in polynomic uncertainty structures. Both the left–half plane and unit circle domains are considered. Save for a minor condition, the criteria reduce robust stability testing of 2D polynomials to testing positivity of only two polynomials. The appealing feature of the new robustness criteria is that positivity testing can be carried out by using the efficient Bernstein minimization algorithms.
Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Decrees: Argentina, A Case Study

The recognition of a foreign judgment by a domestic court and granting it the same executory force as a domestic decision is commonly referred to in civil and common law systems alike as an exequatur proceeding. Exequatur proceedings contrast sharply with procedures surrounding the introduction of a foreign judgment into a domestic court to serve as a public document for purposes of evidence or information in another judicial proceeding since only in the former do treaty provisions, the requirements of reciprocity and comity and other varied prerequisites of domestic law become significant.
What makes envy hostile: Perceived injustice, or a frustrated search for an explanation?

Envy often manifests as hostility or derogation of the superior individual. Two experiments investigated whether perceptions of injustice shape such hostility (in the envier). In Experiment 1, responses of participants to hypothetical scenarios showed that people experience more envious hostility toward another individual when their inferior outcomes are unfairly (compared to fairly) determined, and that judgments of situational fairness mediated this relation. In Experiment 2, participants received bogus feedback about the superiority of another. Participants’ reports of envious hostility were not significantly different across levels of fairness. However, perceptions of fairness correlated with envious reactions. Both experiments employed an external agent as the perpetrator of injustice. Anger toward this agent strongly predicted envious reactions. Taken together, the data suggest perceived fairness does play a role in envious hostility.
Buyer‐supplier relationships: The impact of supplier selection and buyer‐supplier engagement on relationship and firm performance

Purpose – To analyze the impact of supplier selection and buyer‐supplier engagement on the performance benefits attributable to buyer‐supplier relationships, and the effect of these benefits on broader measures of buyer performance.Design/methodology/approach – Analysis is conducted using a structural equation model using survey data.Findings – Results demonstrate the positive influence of engagement and supplier selection on relationship performance. They also demonstrate that the success of the relationship directly and positively affects buyer performance.Research limitations/implications – Additional analysis is required to examine whether the results hold for specific industry or purchase scenarios, and to identify other dimensions of the constructs of interest.Practical implications – Buyers should pay attention to selecting the right suppliers and developing the infrastructure that will enable successful buyer‐supplier relationships.Originality/value – The paper provides empirical evidence of the i...
Humor y política en México

Dentro de las formas de participacion politica informales, el humor politico es una de las mas socorridas en nuestro pais. Sus efectos no son ni abiertos ni inmediatos. Sin embargo, su impacto en la cultura politica lo convierte en un objeto de estudio e investigacion particularmente importante. Aun asi, se trata de un tema que ha sido especialmente ignorado por los academicos y especialistas y en este articulo se parte del supuesto teorico de que el humor politico es solo una forma mas de participacion motivada por la frustracion social derivada del predominio del Estado y su politica sobre la sociedad
Bovine lens acylpeptide hydrolase. Purification and characterization of a tetrameric enzyme resistant to urea denaturation and proteolytic inactivation.

An acylpeptide hydrolase has been purified from bovine lens tissue by anion-exchange and hydrophobic-interaction chromatography. The enzyme, purified over 27000-fold with 44% recovery, has a molecular mass of 300 kDa under native conditions. Under denaturing conditions it shows a subunit molecular mass of 75 kDa. The enzyme is inhibited by diisopropylfluorophosphate (iPr2P-F), phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and N-ethylmaleimide, indicating the presence of an essential serine residue and -SH group. Each subunit of the enzyme has one active serine residue which can be labelled with [3H]iPr2P-F. Nα-blocked amino acids in L form act as competitive inhibitors of the enzyme. The antibiotics penicillin-G and ampicillin partially inhibit the enzyme. Exposure of the purified enzyme to the proteases trypsin, chymotrypsin or elastase do not result in any loss of activity. Digestion of the native enzyme with bovine trypsin generates a 55-kDa protein containing the active-site serine and a 22-kDa polypeptide, indicating the presence of a unique trypsin site. N-terminal amino acid sequencing of the 55-kDa polypeptide shows that the bovine lens enzyme has a sequence at the trypsin cleavage site identical to the porcine liver acylpeptide hydrolase sequence 196–215. The data show that the split enzyme is as active as the native enzyme towards the synthetic substrate Ac-Ala-p-nitroanilide. The enzyme activity decreases with increasing urea, but 15% of the activity remains even in the presence of 6.0 M urea. On removal of urea, complete recovery of the enzyme activity is observed. However, treatment with 1 M guanidine/HCl completely inactivates the enzyme.
CNS sensing and regulation of peripheral glucose levels

Publisher Summary It is clear that the brain has evolved a mechanism for sensing the levels of ambient glucose. Teleologically, this is likely to be a function of its requirement for glucose as a primary metabolic substrate. There is no question that the brain can sense and mount a counterregulatory response to restore very low levels of plasma and brain glucose. However, it is less clear that the changes in glucose associated with normal diurnal rhythms and feeding cycles are sufficient to influence either ingestive behavior or the physiologic responses involved in regulating plasma glucose levels. Glucosensing neurons are clearly a distinct class of metabolic sensors with the capacity to respond to a variety of intero- and exteroceptive stimuli. This makes it likely that these glucosensing neurons do participate in physiologically relevant homeostatic mechanisms involving energy balance and the regulation of peripheral glucose levels. It is our challenge to identify the mechanisms by which these neurons sense and respond to these metabolic cues. This chapter focuses on the glucosensing role of these neurons. The chapter also states that glucosensing neurons represent a distinct and unique type of neuron, which has evolved specifically to sense, and regulate energy homeostasis in the body.
The application of fiberoptic indicator-dilution technique to the assessment of myocardial function. II. The interaction of the ejection fraction and end-diastolic volume during exercise and isoproterenol infusion.

Abstract Left ventricular performance, in terms of its “pump” action, may be estimated in patients with heart disease, when conditions of “preloading”, “afterloading” and the force and velocity of muscular contraction are known. This assessment is optimally carried out if the same factors are studied while the ventricle is subjected to a workload or sympathetic stimulation. Thirty-four patients with a variety of cardiac lesions underwent exercise or isoproterenol infusion. Cardiac output, stroke volume, the ejection fraction, end-diastolic and end-systolic volume, ventricular or systemic arterial pressures, or both, and resistance were determined at regular intervals. On the average, heart rate doubled in all patients; in those tested during exercise the oxygen consumption rose at least 3-fold. Two types of response were observed: The first, termed “normal” response, occurred in 16 of the 34 patients and was characterized by an increase in cardiac output, stroke volume and ejection fraction and by a decrease in end-diastolic and end-systolic dimensions. The second, occurring in the remaining 18 patients, consisted of a similar increase in cardiac output but a decrease in ejection fraction and an increase in end-diastolic and end-systolic left ventricular size. It is concluded that when an increase in end-diastolic and end-systolic dimensions occurs in the face of unchanged or decreased “after-load”, impaired myocardial reserve is present. The impairment is presumably reflected by a diminished force or velocity of myocardial contraction, or both. Since the latter cannot be measured directly, whereas the present technique permits measurement of changes in the ejection fraction and in the cardiac cavity size, it is proposed that this type of analysis be used in patients when preoperative evaluation of myocardial function is required.
Downregulation of HOXC6 in Serous Ovarian Cancer

Homeobox (HOX) genes encode transcription factors critical to morphogenesis and cell differentiation. Although dysregulation of several HOX genes in ovarian cancer has been reported, little is known about HOXC6 expression in epithelial ovarian cancer. In this report, analysis of laser capture microdissected samples determined HOXC6 expression patterns in normal versus malignant serous ovarian carcinoma tissues. HOXC6 protein was quantified by ELISA in parallel serum samples and further validated in a larger cohort of serum samples collected from women with and without serous ovarian carcinoma. These data demonstrate significant downregulation of HOXC6 in serous ovarian cancer.
Landscape Urbanism and New Urbanism: A View of the Debate

Matthew Heins' (2015) effort to find common ground between Landscape Urbanism and New Urbanism is a worthy project. We should encourage constructive debates between today's competing approaches to ...
"Evidence-based medicine" to support the surgical procedures we perform on patients with pelvic organ prolapse.

While no one would argue that evidence is certainly the cornerstone of science, the term "evidence-based medicine” is commonly utilized by academicians, clinicians, researchers, and policy makers. The goal of an “evidence-based” health-care system is to provide quality health care based on a consensus within a subspecialty of standards of clinical practice that lead to diagnostic and treatment guidelines. “Evidence-based medicine” is defined as the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients. The decisions are based on three factors:
Synthesis and relative stereochemistry of the four mercapturic acids derived from styrene oxide and N-acetylcysteine.

Abstract The chemical reaction between (±)-styrene oxide and N-acetylcysteine produces both positional isomers ( 1 and 2 ) as a mixture of diastereoisomers with a preference for the benzylic thioether isomer 1 (2 : 1). Synthesis of the mercapturic acid conjugates from either (+)- or (−)-styrene oxide produces only two of the four possible stereoisomers. The single diastereoisomers of 1 and 2 were separated by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and identified by 1H- and 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The relative stereochemistry at the benzylic carbon center of the mercapturic acid conjugates was assigned on the basis of the established chemical correlation between optically pure styrene oxide and its precursor mandelic acid, and considerations on the mechanism of ring opening of epoxides by sulfur nucleophiles. The stereochemical definition of the isomers 3 – 6 should prove useful in investigations of the biotransformation of the glutathione (GSH) conjugates of styrene oxide.
Bevacizumab improves pathologic response and protects against hepatic injury in patients treated with oxaliplatin‐based chemotherapy for colorectal liver metastases

BACKGROUND. The current study evaluated the effect of bevacizumab added to fluoropyrimidine-plus-oxaliplatin (5FU/OX) chemotherapy for colorectal liver metastases (CLM) on the pathologic response and nontumorous liver histology. METHODS. A total of 105 consecutive patients treated preoperatively with 5FU/OX chemotherapy with (n = 62) or without (n = 43) bevacizumab were analyzed. The response to chemotherapy was evaluated by pathologic analysis of tumor viability (percentage of viable tumor in relation to tumor surface area). The incidence and grade of hepatic sinusoidal dilation were also investigated. RESULTS. Bevacizumab-containing regimens significantly reduced the degree of tumor viability compared with 5FU/OX-only chemotherapy (32.9% vs 45.3%; P = .02). After stratification according to the magnitude of tumor viability, a higher proportion of patients treated with bevacizumab than without had <25% residual viable tumor cells (45% vs 23%; P = .02). However, the addition of bevacizumab to 5FU/OX did not appear to increase the incidence of complete pathologic response (11.3% vs 11.6%; P = .59). The incidence and severity of sinusoidal dilation was lower in patients treated with bevacizumab than in those treated with 5FU/OX only (any grade: 27.4% vs 53.5%; moderate or severe: 8.1% vs 27.9%; both P < .01). CONCLUSIONS. In patients treated with 5FU/OX chemotherapy, bevacizumab improves the pathologic response, as demonstrated by a reduction of the degree of tumor viability, and reduces the incidence and severity of hepatic injury. This retrospective study provides additional evidence supporting the use of bevacizumab in combination with 5FU/OX for CLM. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Optimising lot sizing with nonlinear production rates in a multi-product multi-machine environment

Abstract We model a nonlinear production process at CTS Reeves, a manufacturing firm in Carlisle, PA, using a linear approximation model and heuristic methods to find a near optimal solution to determining lot sizes when learning effects are present. In a nonlinear manufacturing process, the average time to produce a part varies based upon the lot size, and typically, the average time to produce a part decreases as the lot size increases owing to a learning effect. Our linear approximation model uses discrete time periods to represent production lots. The amount of production is known for any discrete period, and as the length of the period increases, the production amounts increase at the nonlinear rate. The discrete time periods enable a production schedule to be determined that minimises production and holding costs. We build upon our prior method, which successfully addressed the single-product, single-machine environment. In this work, we expand the method to the multiple product and single machine e...
Revisiting the Obama Effect: Exposure to Obama reduces implicit prejudice

Abstract The present research experimentally evaluated whether exposure to Barack Obama, a positive counter-stereotypic exemplar, can result in a decrease in implicit anti-Black prejudice among non-Black participants. In order to undo any existing influence of exposure to Obama, we first exposed some participants to negative Black exemplars. Participants were assigned to one of three conditions where they were exposed subtly to negative Black exemplars, to negative Black exemplars and then Obama, or to neutral X's (i.e., control). Participants who were only primed with negative Black exemplars showed more implicit negativity toward Black people compared to the control group. Participants exposed to the same negative Black exemplars and then Obama showed a decrease in implicit racial bias levels compared to those in the negative exemplar only condition, providing experimental evidence that exposure to Obama can decrease implicit racial bias levels. These findings indicate that even subtle exposure to a positive, counter-stereotypic exemplar can reduce implicit prejudice.
Management and Economic Implications of Intensive Grazing on Dairy Farms in the Northeastern States

Abstract The effects of intensive grazing by dairy cattle on annual herbage utilization, forage and crop production, and net returns were compared with a drylot feeding system for a typical Pennsylvania dairy farm using linked spreadsheet models. The 80-ha case farm supported a herd of 53 cows and 48 replacements with a herd average of 6800kg of milk/yr per cow. Annual feed consumption for the grazing farm included 173, 182, and 118 tonnes of pasture, stored forage, and concentrate DM, respectively. Corresponding tonnes of DM for the drylot feeding system were 47, 293, and 114. Net herbage production of 6589kg of DM/ha was used for grazing (5350kg of DM/ha) and for hay (970kg of DM/ha), and 269kg/ha were not utilized on the grazing farm. On the confined farm, herbage was used primarily for hay (4484kg of DM/ha) rather than for grazing (1446kg of DM/ha), and herbage loss amounted to 659kg of DM/ha. The gross margin was $121 per cow higher on the grazing farm. Despite this potential to improve the profitability of dairy farms, the low usage of intensive grazing in the northeastern US is likely to continue until dairy producers become confident 1) that milk production per cow can be maintained at a level similar to that for confined feeding or 2) that the relative price of concentrates, stored forage, and pasture change to favor grazing more.
Reversible effect of strain on transport critical current in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8?+?x superconducting wires: a modified descriptive strain model

A reversible strain effect on transport critical current Ic was found in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 + x (Bi-2212) high-temperature superconducting round wires. Ic showed unambiguous reversibility at 4 K and 16 T up to an irreversible strain limit of about 0.3 % in longitudinal tension, prompting hope that the Bi-2212 conductor has the potential to sustain mechanical strains generated in high-field magnets. However, Ic was not reversible under longitudinal compression and buckling of Bi-2212 grain colonies was identified as the main reason. A two-component model was proposed, which suggests the presence of mechanically weak and strong Bi-2212 components within the wire filaments. Porosity embedded in the weak component renders it structurally unsupported and, therefore, makes it prone to cracking under strain e. Ic(e) is irreversible in tension if the weak component contributes to the transport critical current but becomes reversible once connectivity of the weak component is broken through strain increase or cycling. A modified descriptive strain model was also developed, which illustrates the effect of strain in the Bi-2212 conductor and supersedes the existing descriptive model. Unlike the latter, the new model suggests that higher pre-compressive strains should improve Ic if buckling of Bi-2212 grains does not occur, and should result in a wider Ic(e) plateau in the applied tensile regime without degradation of the initial Ic. The new model postulates that a reversible strain effect should exist even in the applied compressive strain regime if buckling of Bi-2212 grains could be prevented through elimination of porosity and mechanical reinforcement of the wire.
Bioethics in the urban context.

Alan R. Fleischman,Betty Wolder Levin,and Sharon Abele MeekinThehealthandwell-beingofurbanpopulationshasbeentherecentfocusoftheNew York Academy of Medicine. In 1998, the Academy created the Center forUrbanBioethicstoengageinresearch,educationalactivities,andprogramdevelop-menttoaddresstheethicalissuesinherentinthedensityanddiversityofculture,race,ethnicity,religion,andsocioeconomicstatusthatcharacterizetheurbanenvi-ronment—hometomanyvulnerable,underserved,anddisenfranchisedindividuals.ThecenterjoinsotherresearcheffortsoftheAcademythatemphasizethecriticalnatureofsocialandbehavioraldeterminantsofhealthforunderservedandmargin-alizedpopulations.Over75%oftheAmericanpopulationnowlivesinanurbancenterorenvironssurroundingit.Theseurbansettingsaredistinguishedfromruralonesbytheden-sityanddiversityofpeopleandinstitutions.Thehumancongestionandheterogene-ityincitieshasalwaysbeenanironicinterplayofextremes,withareasofsubstan-tialwealthborderingonslums,state-of-the-arthealthcareinstitutionsadjacenttocommunitieswithpreventableandseriousdiseases,andpowerfulBrahminfamiliesamidrecentlyarrivedimmigrants.Theseobviousdisparitiesandinequitiescreatemanyimportantfactorsthathaveanimpactonhealth.Thedeterminantsofhealth,illness,andinjuryincludesocial,environmental,biologic,andbehavioralfactors.Frequently,thecomplexityoftheurbanenviron-mentexacerbatesthesedeterminants,concentratingadversefactorsandresultinginpoorerhealthstatusformanyoftheurbandwellers.Socioeconomicfactorsaccountformuchofthevariationinhealthstatusandhealthoutcomesinurbanareas.
Optimal design of tendon-actuated morphing structures: nonlinear analysis and parallel algorithm

The idea of a morphing aircraft wing has generated considerable interest in recent years. Such a structure has inherent advantages of possessing high maneuverability and efficiency under different flight conditions such as take off, cruise and loiter. The current focus is on achieving continuous wing shape change, as opposed to discrete, in order to help reduce drag. This research aims to achieve continuous wing morphing by employing a wing structure comprising of an optimized internal layout of cables and struts. Cables are employed as actuators while struts provide rigidity to the wing. In addition to achieving continuous morphing by changing cable length, this structure has the advantage of being light in weight. The focus of this paper is on obtaining an optimized cable and strut layout in the body of the wing. Non-linear Finite Element Analysis (FEA) has been performed to account for the large deflection requirements. An objective function that considers deflection under actuation and air loads has been incorporated. Results comparing linear and non-linear FEA are presented for a particular wing design. The nonlinear finite element is found to be effective when using large actuation forces.
The dynamic behavior of ultrathin lubricant films

Molecular dynamics simulations with the Langevin equation using a coarse-grained, bead-spring model were performed to investigate the dynamic properties of nanoscale lubricant films. The simulated spreading profiles of lubricant nanofilms are in qualitative agreement with previous experimental results. The Einstein’s relationship and Green–Kubo formula provide alternative perspectives for describing the diffusive phenomena of lubricant nanofilms. The effects of molecular weights and their distribution, temperature, and film thickness were examined.
Elastic and piezoelectric fields in quantum wire semiconductor structures - A boundary integral equation analysis

This paper presents a rigorous analysis on the elastic and piezoelectric fields in quantum wire (QWR) semiconductor structures using the accurate boundary integral equation method. The materials modelled include both zincblende and wurtzite III–V semiconductors, and both the well-accepted inclusion and structural inhomogeneity models are discussed. While the difference in the strain field between the inclusion and inhomogeneity models is consistent with previously published results, within about 10%, the difference in the induced piezoelectric fields between these two models can be very large, sometimes even with different signs (for zincblende semiconductors). The electric field distribution in polygonal QWRs with different sides is also studied and it is found that the electric field in triangular and square QWRs can be very different from the fields in polygonal QWRs with more than four sides. These findings should provide important considerations and trend analyses for both growth and modelling associated with QWR semiconductor structures. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Rereading S: A New Model of Textual Development in Light of the Cave 4 Serekh Copies

After the publication of the Cave 4 copies, reconstructing the textual history of the Community Rule (Serekh ha-Yahad or S) was further complicated. Because of both the divergences and the continuities between these versions, their relationship could no longer be explained by a simple chronological line of development. This paper offers a new, chronological-spatial model that better accounts for the textual history of S. In doing so, it asks larger methodological questions about the study of this text, and by extension, how we unnecessarily read Qumran into S. Using this broader model, we can better resolve yet unexplained dilemmas concerning the relationship between 1QS and the Cave 4 copies.
A 30 ps timing resolution for single photons with multi-pixel Burle MCP-PMT

We have achieved ∼30 ps single-photoelectron and ∼9.1 ps for multi-photoelectron timing resolution with a new 64-pixel Burle MCP-PMT with 10 μm microchannel holes. We have also demonstrated that this detector works in a magnetic field of 15 kG, and achieved a single-photoelectron timing resolution of better than 60 ps The study is relevant for a new focusing DIRC RICH detector for particle identification at future colliders such as the super B-factory or ILC, and for future TOF techniques. This study shows that a highly pixilated MCP-PMT can deliver excellent timing resolution.
The well-being of mothers of adolescents with developmental disabilities in relation to medical care utilization and satisfaction with health care

Parents of children with disabilities have been found to be more likely to experience stress and depressive symptoms than parents of typically developing children as a result of the increased challenges inherent in their parenting role. This study investigated the utilization of and satisfaction with adolescent health care services reported by mothers and their relation to maternal well-being. Participants included 73 mothers and their adolescents with developmental disabilities who had been recruited as infants and toddlers from early intervention programs to participate in a longitudinal investigation, the Early Intervention Collaborative Study. Data were collected through parent reports and structured assessments with adolescents. Regression analyses were conducted to test whether utilization and maternal satisfaction with care related to maternal depressive symptoms or parenting stress after controlling for child and family characteristics. The results demonstrated that both utilization and maternal satisfaction with health care added unique variance in predicting lower levels of maternal stress and depressive symptoms.
Novel numerical method for calculating initial flux of colloid particle adsorption through an energy barrier.

Abstract Using variable substitution, we present a general method for the numerical solution of stiff, ordinary, linear, homogeneous differential equations characteristic of colloid particle adsorption/deposition over an energy barrier. For the example of the radial impinging jet system, we demonstrate the application of this method of calculating the colloid concentration profile and initial particle flux in the presence of repulsive electrostatic interactions between the particle and adsorption surface. We show that our method works well in systems with energy barriers up to the order of hundreds of kT, at which point the adsorption flux vanishes. The numerical results obtained with our method are in good agreement with the known limiting analytical approximations for the particle flux through an energy barrier and for a low Peclet number. The developed numerical code is very stable over a wide range of physical parameters, and its accuracy for the most challenging parameter sets is on the order of 10−4. To achieve this stability, we have derived and employed a single formula for the van der Waals dispersion interaction, working at both a small and a large separation distance. We show that this formula converges to the known available analytical expressions for dispersion forces in the limit of small and large separation distance. We also demonstrate that the maximum deviations between our formula and the other equations appear in the intermediate range of the separation distance and do not exceed 10%.
A truth-conditional formulation of Karttunen's account of presupposition

Karttunen's seminal 1973 article ‘Presuppositions of compound sentences’, lays the groundwork for the elegant and fruitful theory of this subject which he subsequently presented in (1974). In (1973, pp. 185–8), however, he fallaciously argued that the regularities he discovered concerning the behavior of and, or, and if ... then in English cannot be embodied in any three-valued logic giving a truth-functional interpretation to these connectives. The present paper refutes Karttunen's argument by exhibiting an interpretation with the desired properties, and shows further how the full articulation of his 1974 system can be developed naturally within a truth-conditional semantics for English if bivalence is abandoned — contrary to what Karttunen expected.
The Milnor patching property

Abstract This paper gives a complete answer to the following question: If R is a commutative ring in which every height 1 ideal is a local set-theoretic complete intersection (e.g., R could be regular) and R 1 and R 2 are R -algebras which are flat or of finite type, when is it the case that projective R -modules are precisely those R -modules constructed by “patching” a projective R 1 -module to a projective R 2 -module over R 1 ⊗ r R 2 ? In other words, we give a classification theorem for situtations in which the conclusion to the “Milnor patching theorem” holds. Our answer takes the form of a necessary and sufficient condition whose truth or falsity is very easy to check in most particular situations.
Reference use of state government information in law libraries

Abstract The sources of state government information available in law libraries are described. Acquisition of state legal materials is discussed. Specific selection tools are noted. The impact of microforms, computerized legal research, legislative information systems, and video on the reference use of state legal materials is analyzed.
Effect of hydrogen flow during cooling phase to achieve uniform and repeatable growth of bilayer graphene on copper foils over large area

Abstract The growth of single-layer graphene on copper foil by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method has been investigated extensively by several groups, however, achieving the same for the bilayer graphene, using a fast and reproducible process, is proven to be difficult and most of the efforts in this direction so far have been on controlling the nucleation phase during active growth regime. In this article we show that by regulating the gases introduced during the cooling phase, uniform and continuous growth of both the single and bilayer graphene can be obtained on copper foils with growth phase duration reduced to 3 min (i.e., 5–60 times faster than previous methods). We demonstrated growth of bilayer graphene on 30 × 30 cm copper foils. We show that the use of vacuum cooling enhanced the growth of single-layer graphene while the introduction of hydrogen gas during the cooling phase promoted the growth of bilayer graphene. We explain observed results elucidating a crucial role of hydrogen leading to a growth of bilayer graphene. The characterization of single and bilayer graphene have been supported by extensive statistical analysis of Raman spectroscopy, selected area electron diffraction measurements as well as fabrication of graphene field effect transistors.
Effects of increased temperature on dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) concentration and methionine synthase activity in Symbiodinium microadriaticum

Dinoflagellate algae of the genus Symbiodinium occur as endosymbionts in a variety of hosts including coral. The response of Symbiodinium spp. to environmental changes could dictate survival of their hosts and the ecological success of coral reef ecosystems. Oxidative stress has been linked to a breakdown in this symbiotic relationship, known as bleaching. Increased temperature is one of the primary environmental changes linked to this phenomenon. Preliminary studies have established high concentrations of the sulfur compound dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) in Symbiodinium spp., with increased temperature. To examine the potential use of DMSP as an antioxidant, a 5 day incubation experiment was conducted at two temperatures with the algae S. microadriaticum (CCMP1633) isolated from the cnidarian host Aiptasia pulchella. An HPLC assay for the activity of the enzyme B12-dependent methionine synthase was modified and used to determine the link between de novo production of methionine, a precursor to DMSP, and temperature induced oxidative stress. DMSP concentrations per cell increased approximately 38 % in the 33 °C treatment cultures over 120 h. However, these cells also increased more than 2-fold in biovolume (127 ± 43 %), and SYTO-BC stain indicated increased DNA content (approximately 4-fold), suggesting arrested cell division. Normalization of DMSP to biovolume revealed that the concentrations actually decreased approximately 49 % after 2 days in cultures exposed to elevated temperature (33 °C), but were not significantly different from the control treatment at 120 h (27 °C). Concomitant changes in the 33 °C treatment relative to the control (after 120 h) resulted in an approximately 8-fold increase in reactive oxygen species, a 37 % (±7 %) decrease in photosynthetic efficiency of photosystem II, and a 5-fold increase in xanthophyll cycling. Methionine synthase activity (MSA) correlated to the decrease in DMSP concentration (R 2 = 0.778), with decreasing activity at the high temperature. Given this decrease in MSA, the increase in DMSP per cell may be due to DMSP production utilizing methionine from protein turnover, and not de novo synthesis via MSA. The findings of this study provide insight into the responses of algal symbionts to environmental changes, shed light on the potential use of DMSP and other known photo-protective mechanisms such as xanthophyll cycling under temperature induced oxidative stress, and support the suspected cessation of cell division under these conditions. This information could be crucial to understanding cellular responses to environmental changes and the ability of these organisms to survive under elevated sea surface temperatures projected for the near future.
Managing and assessing internet service needs and use of under‐served populations at public libraries

As the range of public library services with new technology has diversified, defining, measuring, assessing and managing the quality of these electronic services has become a critical issue. Internet connections at public libraries have increased dramatically since 1990 due to the availability of key external funding sources. The major goal of those funding sources was to expand public access to Computers and digital information, especially for the public of low-income or under-served populations; thus, there has been continuing increase in public library Internet services at the library, for example, the services at Internet workstations. Although there have been attempts to measure the performance of public library network services by library and information science researchers using network statistics based on “technical-driven” performances, there has been little research dealing with service quality and satisfaction of Internet service users at the public libraries based on “user-driven” performance evaluation. This paper describes the process of survey research using 386 Internet service users at four public libraries and discusses how public libraries need to approach those under-served populations' Information needs and use at Internet workstations which can expand the possibility of new direction for future public library Internet services.
The identification and assessment of undernutrition in patients admitted to the age related health care unit of an acute Dublin general hospital.

Objectives: To profile those over 65 yr admitted to an acute geriatric medical service. To identify and assess their undernutrition risk and quantify the nutritional intervention they received.
The Kinetics of the Trimethoxyboroxine-Induced Thermal Polymerization of Phenyl Glycidyl Ether

The kinetics of the bulk thermal polymerization of phenyl glycidyl ether induced by trimethoxyboroxine were investigated. Infrared absorption spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography were used to follow the course of polymerization, while proton and boron-11 NMR spectroscopy were used to support the kinetic model developed. The postulated mechanism involves a fast-initiated, nonstationary cationic polymerization with five elementary steps, including spontaneous and monomer transfer as well as a termination reaction. The trimethoxyboroxine was found to be incorporated into the structure of the cured polymer. The polymerization was followed at several temperatures and with several ratios of initial concentrations of trimethoxyboroxine to phenyl glycidyl ether.
Community features and urban sprawl: the case of the Chicago metropolitan region ☆

Abstract Both local (endogenous) and regional (exogenous) factors contribute to urban sprawl. Local features include social-economic status, transportation accessibility, housing stock and land use regulations. The geographic location of a community is a key regional factor affecting new development. By using GIS techniques to separate local factors from regional ones, the research found that social-economic and housing stock-related factors are more important than spatial-related factors to a community's attraction to new developments. Therefore, policy makers should pay more attention to broader policy issues instead of looking to transportation related policies in fighting against sprawl.
Design model generation for reverse engineering using multi-sensors

Reverse engineering is the process of creating a design model and a manufacturing database for an existing part or prototype. The applications of reverse engineering are in redesigning of existing parts/tools or prototype parts where the CAD model of the part is not available. Reverse engineering, for the most part, is performed as an interactive process where the designer identifies the surface features from digitized data and then models the surfaces accordingly. This paper presents the algorithms and implementation results for a reverse engineering system which is intended to automatically create CAD representations of part prototypes. An integrated sensory system combining contact and non-contact sensors has been developed to digitize parts surfaces. The sensory system fuses data from machine vision and a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) in order to automatically digitize the part surface. Machine vision is used to capture the orthographic views of the part. The images of these orthographic views are processed and vectorized to create five views of the part in the form of an engineering drawing. The system utilizes the generated orthographic projections to automatically drive the CMM to capture a grid of point coordinates from the part surface. The CMM digitization process is guided by the segmentation provided from the orthographic views. The segmented data from the part surface is input to the surface modeling module of the system where parametric surfaces are fitted through the digitized points. The surfaces are then extended and intersected using the Hermite approximation method to develop the 3-D CAD model of the part. Accuracy and automation is achieved by combining global shape information obtained from part images with the accurate point data acquired by a CMM. Algorithms for surface segmentation, part digitization, surface extension, and surface intersection modeling are described in this paper.
End-plate temperatures and thermal stress distributions in the rotating fluidized bed reactor

Abstract The temperature distribution and thermal stress behavior in the blind end-plate of the rotating fluidized reactor are analyzed using free traction boundary conditions. Parametric effects are discussed and the order of maximum stress is estimated without considering centrifugal stresses.
Microwave Curing: Is It A Reality?

The curing or prebaking of photoresist-coated substrates using microwave radiation has several characteristics that are useful when processing LSI circuits. Some properties of microwave energy, the process results obtained with its utilization, and the advantages for photoresist baking will be presented.© (1981) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A Strong Form of Yamaguti and Nogi's Stability Theorem for Friedrichs' Scheme

In this paper we derive the Lax-Nirenberg Theorem [3-4] for Yamaguti and Nogi's pseudo-difference schemes of [7] and, as a corollary, we obtain a strong form of Yamaguti and Nogi's Stability Theorem for Friedrichs' scheme for regularly hyperbolic systems. These are new results. As in [2] and [7] let JC denote the class of pxp matrices k(x, £)eC°°(fl;x#?-{()}), independent of x for \x\>R fixed, and homogeneous of degree zero in f.
Risk of Decreased Visual Acuity in Full-thickness Idiopathic Macular Holes

We studied 169 eyes of 149 patients with a full-thickness idiopathic macular hole to ascertain the risk factors of enlargement of the hole or the surrounding retinal detachment and subsequent decreased visual acuity. Eyes were divided as follows: group A, 48 eyes with no posterior vitreous detachment and a hole 400 μm or smaller; group B, 77 eyes with no posterior vitreous detachment and a hole 400 μm or larger; group C, 13 eyes with posterior vitreous detachment and a hole 400 μm or smaller; group D, 31 eyes with posterior vitreous detachment and a hole 400 μm or larger. In group A, the macular hole enlarged in 37 eyes (77%); the retinal detachment enlarged in 35 eyes (73%); and visual acuity decreased by two or more Snellen lines in 28 eyes (58%). These percentages were significantly higher than those in group B (P = .01, P = .01, and P = .01, respectively), group C (P = .02, P = .01, and P = .01, respectively), and group D (P = .01, P = .05, and P = .01, respectively). Eyes without posterior vitreous detachment with a full-thickness idiopathic macular hole 400 μm or smaller may have a greater risk of an enlarged macular hole, surrounding retinal detachment, and subsequent visual loss.