cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Emerging Scientist: Challenges to CAPE-V as a Standard

The Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V; American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2002) outlines a protocol for obtaining voice samples and rating their voice quality. It was developed as a standard voice protocol based on expert consensus and psychophysically appropriate measurement of auditory perceptual qualities of voice. The CAPE-V has since obtained widespread research and clinical use, but research suggests considerable variability in how both expert and new clinicians use its rating scales. In this paper, I review remaining challenges to standardizing voice quality evaluation and describe ongoing research addressing these challenges.
A CPW-fed printed monopole antenna using circular CSRR for WCDMA/WiMAX/WLAN applications

In this paper we purpose a novel compact size CPW-fed complementary Circular split ring resonator (CSRR) printed antenna for WLAN, WiMAX and WCDMA applications. The antenna consists of micostrip line and CSRR unit cell, with a fully covered ground plane. The simulated results show that the antenna can yield an impedance bandwidth of 1.87–2.2 GHz, 3.45–4 GHz and from 5.5–5.9 GHz band with reflection coefficient less than −10dB. The antenna has found nearly omni-directional and gain is around 3dBi for all the bands. The overall dimension of the antenna is 14 × 28mm × 1.6mm, which is suitable for all wireless applications.
A Microfluidic Approach for Studying Piezo Channels

Microfluidics is an interdisciplinary field intersecting many areas in engineering. Utilizing a combination of physics, chemistry, biology, and biotechnology, along with practical applications for designing devices that use low volumes of fluids to achieve high-throughput screening, is a major goal in microfluidics. Microfluidic approaches allow the study of cells growth and differentiation using a variety of conditions including control of fluid flow that generates shear stress. Recently, Piezo1 channels were shown to respond to fluid shear stress and are crucial for vascular development. This channel is ideal for studying fluid shear stress applied to cells using microfluidic devices. We have developed an approach that allows us to analyze the role of Piezo channels on any given cell and serves as a high-throughput screen for drug discovery. We show that this approach can provide detailed information about the inhibitors of Piezo channels.
Review: Winckelmann and the Invention of Antiquity: History and Aesthetics in the Age of Altertumwissenschaft, by Katherine Harloe

Katherine Harloe Winckelmann and the Invention of Antiquity: History and Aesthetics in the Age of Altertumwissenschaft Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013, 275 pp., 3 b/w illus. $125, ISBN 9780199695843 It may not seem at first glance that Johann Joachim Winckelmann has much to do with the history of architecture. His most famous book, History of the Art of Antiquity , says little about architecture beyond brief comments on the “depraved taste” of Augustus's buildings and the observation that architecture differed from the other arts in ancient times.1 But Winckelmann's impact on the history of architecture (and architectural historians) is hard to ignore. He is credited generally with ushering in a new method of stylistic analysis, one that generations of historians of the built environment assumed and practiced whether they knew of its originator or not. He is recognized as pioneering a holistic view of art and culture in which one informed the other. He is a key figure in the Greco-Romancontroversy, a set of eighteenth-century debates about the relative superiority of Greece versus Rome that formed a fundamental dispute in architecture.2 Understanding Winckelmann is crucial to understanding the history of our discipline and the practices of modern architectural historians. Katherine Harloe's learned, incisive book recasts this founding father, raising vital questions about the very enterprise of historical scholarship. Harloe takes up Winckelmann as the creator of the modern academic discipline of classical studies ( Altertumwissenschaft ). In the 1800s, German scholars elaborated Altertumwissenschaft as a new systemic way to create a “scientific” understanding of the classical past. Nineteenth-century Germans faced a challenge: how to take the study of antiquities, a field of scholarship that had existed for more than a thousand years, and transform it into a modern discipline. These scholars held up Winckelmann as a flawed forefather, one who provided inspiration even though his interpretations and ideas …
Farmers' Market Utilization among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Recipients in New Orleans, Louisiana: Preliminary Findings.

Objective: Farmers’ markets are increas­ingly being promoted as a means to provide fresh produce to poor and underserved communities. However, farmers’ market (FM) use remains low among low-income patrons. The purpose of our study was to examine FM awareness and use, grocery shopping behaviors, and internet use among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients. Design: A descriptive analysis of preliminary data was performed to evaluate quantita­tive baseline data among SNAP recipients between June and August 2016 in New Or­leans, Louisiana (N=51). Data were collected via a 42-item online survey that included demographics, internet use, FM awareness and use, health information seeking behaviors and fruit and vegetable purchasing behaviors. Results: Less than half of the survey respondents (n=24) had ever been to a FM. Local grocery stores and Wal-Mart were most used for purchasing fruits and vegetables (88% and 84%, respectively). The most common sources of healthy eat­ing information were Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and the internet, frequently accessed via smartphones. More than 80% of participants were not aware that local FMs accepted electronic benefit transfer payments as a form of payment. Conclusion: These results support the incorporation of promotional methodol­ogy that combines internet-based mobile technology and existing services (eg, WIC) as a viable strategy to improve farmers’ market use among low-income populations. As most participants were not aware that participating FMs accept electronic ben­efit transfer payments, this fact should be emphasized in promotional material. Ethn Dis. 2017;27(Suppl 1):295-302; doi:10.18865/ed.27.S1.295.
Automated performance measurement for 3D building modeling decisions

Abstract Building information modeling (BIM) is instrumental in documenting design, enhancing customer experience, and improving product functionality in capital projects. However, high-quality building models do not happen by accident, but rather because of a managed process that involves several participants from different disciplines and backgrounds. Throughout this process, the different priorities of design modelers often result in conflicts that can negatively impact project outcomes. To prevent such unwanted outcomes from occurring, the modeling process needs to be effectively managed. This effective management requires an ability to closely monitor the modeling process and correctly measure the modelers' performance. Nevertheless, existing methods of performance monitoring in building design practices lack an objective measurement system to quantify modeling progress. The widespread utilization of BIM tools presents a unique opportunity to retrieve granular design process data and conduct accurate performance measurements. This research improves upon previous efforts by presenting a novel application programming interface (API)-enabled approach to (a) automatically collect detailed model development data directly from BIM software packages in real-time, and (b) efficiently calculate several modeling performance measures during schematic and design development phases of building projects. These indicators can be used to properly arrange modeling teams in the quest for high-quality building models. The specific objectives of this study to examine the feasibility of a proposed automated design performance measurement framework, and to identify optimal modeling team configurations using empirical performance information. A passive data recording approach allows for the real-time capture of comprehensive user interface (UI) interaction and model element modification events. The proposed framework is implemented as an Autodesk Revit plugin. Next, an experiment is conducted to capture data using the developed Revit plugin. Experiment participants' individual production rates are estimated to establish the validity of the proposed approach to identify the optimal design team configuration. The presented approach uses the earliest due date (EDD) sequencing rule in combination with the critical path method (CPM) to calculate the maximum lateness for different design team arrangements.
The assessment of pain behavior: implications for applied psychophysiology and future research directions.

Persons who have pain engage in behaviors such as resting in bed, taking medication, moving in a guarded fashion, or grimacing that communicate the fact that pain is being experienced. Pain-related behaviors increasingly are viewed as an important target in pain assessment. Traditionally, pain behavior has been assessed through interview or self-recording methods (e.g. diary records). Pain behaviors, however, are overt and can be recorded through direct observation. Over the past 20 years, observation methods have been developed to assess pain behavior in patients having persistent pain conditions. Although these methods are not widely used in applied psychophysiological settings, they potentially could be quite useful. The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on such observation methods. The paper is divided into five parts. The first part provides a description of the basic elements of pain behavior observation protocols. The second part presents information on the psychometric properties of the most commonly used protocols. The third part highlights applications of pain behavior observation protocols. The fourth part briefly describes the strengths and limitations of pain behavior observation. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of pain behavior observation for applied psychophysiology and future directions for research and practice in this area.
Eskimo uses of Artemisia tilesii (Compositae)

A plant used by the southwestern Alaskan Eskimos for treatment of skin infections, chest colds and arthritis was identified asArtemisia tilesii Ledeb. (Compositae). The volatile constituents of this plant were identified as an 80:20 mixture of thujone and isothujone. Isothujone has codeine-like properties, which may help arthritic pain.
Pressure Dependence of Tc for Carbides of Thorium, Yttrium and Scandium

The effect of pressure on the Tc of Y2C3,Th2C3 and two ternary (ThxY1-x)2C3 alloys (all b.c.c. Pu2C3-type structure) was determined. Measurements were also made on the new superconducting germanium stabilized scandium carbide and on a germanium stabilized thorium- yttrium-carbide. The pure binary compounds exhibited negative values for the dTc/dP. Relatively strong positive pressure dependence was observed for the ternary compositions.
Microsecond and millisecond time processing in weakly electric fishes

Weakly electric fishes possess two distinctive electrosensory systems that are specialized to detect amplitude and time (phase) information. The amplitude sensitive system detects electric feedback signals from the fish’s own electric organ discharges that are altered by the resistive component of nearby objects. The time (phase) sensitive system, on the other hand, detects signal times that are altered by the capacitive component of the objects. These subcomponents of the electrosensory system are fundamental to the fish’s ability to obtain the electric image of its immediate surroundings. The jamming avoidance response is a behavior in which the fish alter the frequency of their electric organ discharges to avoid mutual jamming of the electrolocation behavior. The information necessary to perform correct jamming avoidance responses is encoded in the time pattern of amplitude and time signals that occurs in the millisecond time scale. The time signal is encoded in the difference in phases between signals at different locations on the body surface. This differential phase sensitive system operates on the microsecond time scale. Our behavioral experiments demonstrated that even submicrosecond phase differences could be detected by the electrosensory system and manifested in the jamming avoidance responses. Neurons of the central nervous system that are specialized to process amplitude and differential phase information were found in the electrosensory lateral line lobe. In the midbrain, neurons are sensitive to specific time patterns of activities of the amplitude and differential phase sensitive neurons projecting from the lower station. These midbrain neurons examine time pattern of synaptic potentials and exhibit responses necessary for the jamming avoidance response. The electrosensory system of electric fishes is one of the best-understood systems for temporal coding of sensory information.
Effects of the flipped classroom instructional strategy on students’ learning outcomes: a meta-analysis

The flipped classroom instructional strategy is thought to be a good way to structure learning experiences to improve student learning outcomes. Many studies have been conducted to examine the effects of flipped classroom on student learning outcomes compared to the traditional classroom, but the results were inconclusive. The purpose of this study was to examine the overall effect of the flipped classroom instructional strategy on student learning outcomes in relation to a set of moderating variables including student levels, publication types, study durations, and subject area. This meta-analysis examined studies that compared classrooms that used the flipped classroom instructional strategy and classrooms that did not. Seventeen databases were searched to identify literature meeting our inclusion criteria and resulted in 55 publications with 115 effect size comparisons on cognitive student learning outcomes published between 2000 and 2016. Overall, we found a statistically significant effect size (g = 0.193; p < .001; with a 95% confidence interval of 0.113–0.274) in favor of the flipped classroom instructional strategy. The effect size data were normally distributed and exhibited statistically significant heterogeneity. The effect sizes were significantly moderated by subject area such as mathematics, science, social sciences, engineering, arts and humanities, health, and business. No evidence of publication bias was detected in these data. A full discussion of the findings and implications for educational practice and research were provided.
Consumers’ motivation to patronize green lodging facilities

Numerous studies have examined consumers’ attitudes and/or intentions towards practicing socio-environmentally responsible behaviour (e.g. Chen, 2015; Kim, Lee, & Fairhurst, 2017; Ogbeide, 2012; Yu...
Behavioral shifts with urbanization may facilitate biological invasion of a widespread lizard

Understanding how novel environmental conditions presented by urbanization affect the ecology and behavior of species is an important component of global change biology. Behavior is the first way in which organisms respond to novel conditions. We investigated differences in habitat use, movement, and social behavior of invasive adult male Cuban brown anoles (Anolis sagrei) in natural and urban areas in Miami, FL. We observed that urban lizards used broader perches and frequented more artificial human-made substrates (e.g. walls) than lizards in a natural forest habitat. Extensive behavioral observations (ca. 1200 min) revealed that urban A. sagrei also performed more dewlap displays, changed perches less, and jumped less. Our analysis of the structural environment revealed that urban areas are more open – in other words, have higher visibility at typical lizard perch heights, and have fewer and broader perches than natural areas. An increase in openness may explain why we observed a greater than two-fold increase in the frequency of dewlap displaying – the primary mechanism of visual communication in anoles. Similarly, less perch changes and fewer jumps – a form of locomotion frequently used in perch-perch movement when perches are close – is likely driven by a three-fold decrease in tree density. Understanding how behavior and ecology differ in urban vs. natural ecosystems provides insight into how species persist in urban landscapes, and how such behavioral shifts might facilitate biological invasions.
The Critical Role of AlInP Window Design in III–V Rear-Emitter Solar Cells

This article highlights the critical role of window design on short circuit carrier collection in rear-emitter solar cells, as demonstrated through modeling and experiment using metamorphic GaAsyP1-y. Ultimately, if the window design is not carefully considered, surface depletion caused by Fermi level pinning at the window/air interface can extend into regions of active collection resulting in a large increase in effective window/base interface recombination velocity. This was experimentally shown here to result in a potential AM1.5G photocurrent loss of 8.1 mA/cm2, or nearly 50%, based on integrated internal quantum efficiency (IQE). Associated IQE modeling and curve fitting indicate that the effective IRV at the GaAs0.75P0.25/Al0.64In0.36P interface is increased by multiple orders of magnitude when the window is not sufficiently thick or doped to fully contain the surface depletion to within the window layer. Calculations of the surface depletion depth as a function of doping and the surface Fermi pinning energy level provides insight into the fundamental limits of window thickness. This allows the estimation of the Al0.64In0.36P surface pinning level to be at least 1.25 eV below the conduction band edge, or in the bottom half of the bandgap.
Gasping for air: measuring patient education and activation skillsets in two clinical assessment contexts

Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) provide a controlled, simulated setting for competency assessments, while unannounced simulated patients (USPs) measure competency in situ or real-world settings. This exploratory study describes differences in primary care residents’ skills when caring for the same simulated patient case in OSCEs versus in a USP encounter. Data reported describe a group of residents (n=20) who were assessed following interaction with the same simulated patient case in two distinct settings: an OSCE and a USP visit at our safety-net clinic from 2009 to 2010. In both scenarios, the simulated patient presented as an asthmatic woman with limited understanding of illness management. Residents were rated through a behaviourally anchored checklist on visit completion. Summary scores (mean % well done) were calculated by domain and compared using paired sample t-tests. Residents performed significantly better with USPs on 7 of 10 items and in two of three aggregate assessment domains (p
Introduction: The dynamics of coupled human and natural systems

This essay introduces a special section of this issue containing a set of papers on the dynamics of coupled human and natural systems. We frame this introduction by setting out some of the major issues confronting researchers who wish to incorporate both economic and biophysical dynamics in their analysis. We contrast the three papers contained in this section in terms of how they respond to these different issues. We conclude that these papers provide important new insights on both how to model and analyze dynamic coupled human and natural systems and how to define policies that will lead to improved human well being and environmental conditions. Economic development is by nature a dynamic process. The very concept of development is based on the idea that decisions made today can lead to a better future. The process of biophysical change is also dynamic, as states of nature change due to both inherent biological processes and external influences on these processes. Exploring the nature of the linkages between
Spending Patterns of Older Households

Using the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) 2014 and the Consumption and Activities Mail Survey (CAMS) 2015, we examine total spending and its components based on marital and retirement status. We also closely analyze the gap between total spending and total income as defined in the HRS. Overall, 59 percent of the sample spent less than their income; 41 percent spent more than their income in 2015. For single and retired individuals in 2015, average spending was $5,000 lower than income; however, median spending was higher than median income by $3,000. Coupled households where both spouses were retired on average spent 80 percent of their income in 2015; married couples with at least one spouse in the labor force had the lowest spending-to-income ratio with an average of 45 percent. The single, retired cohort had the highest spending-to-income ratio, with an average of 86 percent. However, their median spending-to-income ratio was very high at 112 percent. As many income replacement approaches assume, our findings support a reduction in housing and transportation expenses for retirees relative to those in the labor force. However, food costs and health expenses were higher for retirees. These observations could merit a different approach for measuring retirement income adequacy as well as further research where a longitudinal analysis is used to assess the changes in spending allocations before and after retirement. For a single and retired individual in 2015, average income was $21,000 higher for those with regular pension/annuity income compared with those without a pension, while the average total expenditure was $9,000 greater, which was largely driven by a higher share of entertainment and other (gifts and contributions) expenses in total spending. Married and retired households with pension income, on average, had $16,000 more income than those without pension income; total expenditure was $10,000 more, largely driven by higher dollar-amount spending on the housing, entertainment, and other (gifts and contributions) categories. While almost 34 percent of households with regular pension/annuity income spent more than their income, 46 percent of households without regular pension/annuity income spent more than their total income in 2015. Having an IRA or pension account is correlated with surpluses: 71 percent of households with a surplus had IRAs or pension accounts, vs. 52 percent with a deficit. In addition, account holders with a surplus were less likely to make irregular withdrawals from their account (28 percent) vs. those with a deficit (42 percent). The probability of having a deficit has a positive correlation with catastrophic medical expenses. For instance, of those who spent 20 percent or more of their income on medical expenses, 85 percent experienced a budget deficit. In comparison, of those who spent 5 percent or less of their income on health-related costs, only 20 percent experienced a deficit.
Augmentation strategies for treatment-refractory clozapine patients

Background Clozapine can be a life-saving and course-altering treatment for patients with psychosis, particularly treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Unfortunately, clozapine monotherapy rarely leads to a full symptomatic remission. Aims This talk outlines key decision points in the use of clozapine: how to select patients for clozapine treatment and how to optimize clozapine’s efficacy in patients with a poor response to an adequate clozapine monotherapy trial. Conclusions Clozapine’s main indication is for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) should be used to optimize clozapine dosing during a clozapine trial and to rule-out pseudo-resistance. Up to 50% of patients do not respond to clozapine monotherapy and augmentation strategies can be utilized in such cases. Pharmacological add-on treatments are selected based on the most prominent symptom cluster (refractory psychosis, negative symptoms, depression and suicidality, aggression). Electroconvulsive therapy is the most effective augmentation strategy for refractory psychosis and suicidality. Non-pharmacological interventions and a focus on quality of life become important considerations in clozapine non-responders. Comments Clozapine is an important and underutilized tool in the management of treatment-resistant schizophrenia. It should be offered timely, as soon as treatment-resistance becomes apparent. Clinicians can use personalized augmentation strategies as part of a comprehensive treatment plan in order to achieve improvements even in patients with a poor response to clozapine alone. However, polypharmacy should be used judiciously, keeping in mind medical morbidity and quality of life. Disclosure I have the following financial relationship with a commercial interest to disclose (recipient SELF; content area SCHIZOPHRENIA): Alkermes – Research grant (to institution), consultant honoraria (Advisory Board); Avanir – Research grant (to institution);
Quantification of Discordant Variant Interpretations in a Large Family-Based Study of Li-Fraumeni Syndrome.

PURPOSEThe use of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and the Association for Molecular Pathology guidelines has improved germline variant classification concordance, but discrepa...
CO2-Prophet model based evaluation of CO2-EOR and storage potential in mature oil reservoirs

Abstract The selection of candidate reservoirs for future CO2 enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and storage projects greatly relies on methodical screening and detailed site specific evaluations. Once suitable reservoirs are identified in an initial screening for further evaluation, CO2-Prophet screening model can be used for a better understanding of proposed EOR project performance and site specific incidental CO2 storage potential prior to launching detailed and time consuming reservoir simulation studies. Often, calibration of CO2-Prophet model is either overlooked or performed for achieving a material balance for oil and water phases. A reservoir specific calibration of CO2-Prophet model for obtaining material balance for oil and water phases is aimed to increase confidence in future performance prediction results. The present paper describes the calibration procedure of the CO2-Prophet model in detail and uses the appropriately calibrated model for predicting CO2-EOR performance and incidental CO2 storage potential in the selected reservoirs. The present study uses CO2-Prophet model for expanding the initial screening process further i.e., site specific evaluation of CO2-EOR and storage potential using an approach that lies between initial screening estimates and detailed reservoir simulation based studies. Beyond EOR based volumetric predictions or other simple estimations made in initial screening of candidate reservoirs, appropriately calibrated CO2-Prophet model can provide more robust and reservoir specific estimate of CO2-EOR and incidental CO2 storage potential for candidate reservoirs. Such results can be used for making initial business decisions like selection of prospective pilot sites or field acquisition while avoiding the need of detailed reservoir simulation studies.
Book review: Lithic Materials and Paleolithic Societies

Lithic Materials and Paleolithic Societies is an edited volume of research papers that provides perspectives on the study of lithic technological organization from around the world. The book contains 20 chapters organized into four thematic sections focused on stone procurement, tool-stone use, the role of tool-stone subsistence and settlement systems, and the clues about social interaction that are gleaned from the study of lithic materials.
MR imaging of the small bowel

Cross-sectional imaging techniques are playing an increasing role in the evaluation of suspected small-bowel disorders, and a growing awareness of the risks of ionizing radiation exposure has prompted the exploration of alternative imaging techniques. Advantages of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging include a lack of ionizing radiation, the ability to provide dynamic information regarding bowel distention and motility, improved soft-tissue contrast, and a relatively safe intravenous contrast agent profile. Limitations of MR imaging include cost, imager access, variability in examination quality, and lower spatial and temporal resolution compared with those of computed tomography (CT). MR imaging of the small bowel is indicated for patients with Crohn disease, those for whom exposure to radiation is a concern, those with contraindications to CT, and those with low-grade small-bowel obstruction. MR imaging may be performed with enterography or enteroclysis. In enterography, large volumes of fluid are ingested. Several different contrast agents may be used. These agents are classified according to their signal intensity on T1- and T2-weighted images. In enteroclysis, enteric contrast material is administered through a nasoenteric tube. Crohn disease is the primary indication for MR imaging of the small bowel because many patients require multiple follow-up examinations. Findings suggestive of active inflammation include bowel wall thickening and hyperenhancement, ulcerations, increased mesenteric vascularity, and perienteric inflammation. Complications are well depicted and may include penetrating disease and small-bowel obstruction.
Rett syndrome model suggests MECP2 gives neurons the quiet they need to think.

The neurodevelopmental disorder Rett syndrome involves mutations in the transcriptional repressor MECP2. Two groups now show a role for MECP2 in postmitotic mouse neurons.
Reduced levels of the tyrosine phosphatase STEP block beta amyloid‐mediated GluA1/GluA2 receptor internalization

J. Neurochem. (2011) 119, 664–672. Abstract Striatal-Enriched protein tyrosine Phosphatase of MW 61 kDa (STEP61) is a protein tyrosine phosphatase recently implicated in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). STEP61 is elevated in human AD prefrontal cortex and in the cortex of several AD mouse models. The elevated levels of active STEP61 down-regulate surface expression of GluN1/GluN2B (formerly NR1/NR2B) receptor complexes, while genetically reducing STEP levels rescues both the biochemical and cognitive deficits in a triple transgenic AD mouse model (3xTg-AD). Here, we show that increased STEP61 also plays a role in beta amyloid (Aβ)-mediated internalization of the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-(AMPA) receptor (AMPAR) subunits GluA1/GluA2 (formerly GluR1/GluR2). We purified Aβ oligomers and determined that oligomers, but not monomers, lead to endocytosis of GluA1/GluA2 receptors in cortical cultures. The decrease in GluA1/GluA2 receptors is reversed in the progeny of STEP knock-out (KO) mice crossed with Tg2576 mice, despite elevated levels of Aβ. These results provide strong support for the hypothesis that STEP61 is required for Aβ-mediated internalization of GluA1/GluA2 receptors.
Modeling Production of Longline Yarding Operations in Coastal British Columbia

Two Madil 046 skyline yarders, rigged as slackline systems and equipped with Ballenger motorized carriages, were studied by field crews from the University of British Columbia - Forest Operations Group for approximately six months at sites on the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia. A continuous turn element time study, using handheld data recorders was employed to collect data throughout the study. Mean cycle times for the two operations ranged from 11.5 to 13.5 minutes per cycle. Delays contributed at least 20 percent of the cycle time for both operations and were primarily caused by carriage related problems. Average piece size differed by more than 56 percent and created significant differences in overall system productivity. While average cycle time for the two systems differed by at least two minutes, the system with the longer cycle time had higher mean production due to the larger volume per piece and per cycle. The study results strongly suggest that maximizing volume per cycle is critical to maintaining productivity and minimizing costs, even though cycle time may be increased. In this case, one system was able to capitalize on larger average piece size to significantly improve hourly production, even though cycle times for this yarder were higher. More effort is needed during operations to monitor volume (or weight) per cycle and consistently maintain the maximum volume per cycle for existing conditions.
Fault in American Contract Law: Willful Breach: An Efficient Screen for Efficient Breach

Courts frequently say that wilfulness matters when awarding damages for breach of contract. Such thinking is, however, at odds with the basic expectation damages principle: if we are trying to put the injured promisee in the position she would have been in but-for the breach, the promisor's reasons for breach shouldn't matter at all. We offer a more parsimonious theory of willfulness. Courts appropriately give special treatment to breaches that contracting parties, at the time they enter into their contract, expect the promisor to be able to avoid at little or no cost to the parties as a whole-that is, willful breaches. The remedies awarded in willful breach cases typically involve disgorgement of the promisor's profits from breach because wilfull breaches should not be compensated, but simply deterred.
A Study of RDB-based RDF data management techniques

RDF has gained great interest in both academia and industry as an important language to describe graph data. Several approaches have been proposed for storing and querying RDF data efficiently; each works best under certain circumstances, e.g. certain types of data and/or queries. However, there was lack of a thorough understanding of exactly what these circumstances are, as different data-sets and query sets are used in the empirical evaluations in the literature to highlight their proposed techniques. In this work, we capture the characteristics of data and queries that are critical to the RDF storage and query evaluation efficiency and provide a thorough analysis of the existing storage, indexing and query evaluation techniques based on these characteristics. We believe that our study not only can be used in evaluating both existing and emerging RDF data management techniques, but also lays the foundations for designing RDF benchmarks for more in-depth performance analysis of RDF data management systems.
Plant responses to insect herbivore damage are modulated by phosphorus nutrition

Interactions between plants and their herbivores are often multidimensional, complicating interpretation of herbivore-impact studies. A previous study, directed toward understanding variation in incidences of flower bud abscission among cotton plants attacked by Lygus plant bugs, revealed an unanticipated correlation between levels of phosphorus nutrition and the propensity of plants to abscise developing flower buds. Here, we further investigate the relationship between phosphorus nutrition and cotton [Gossypium hirsutum Tod. (Malvaceae)] plant responses to herbivory by tarnished plant bugs, Lygus hesperus Knight (Hemiptera: Miridae). Complementary experimental approaches and survey data both suggest that levels of phosphorus nutrition falling within the normal range of variation can influence the manner by which plants respond to herbivory. In particular, higher levels of phosphorus nutrition resulted in elevated bud abscission rates when buds were damaged. Interestingly, increased levels of abscission under high-phosphorus regimes did not translate into a decrease in overall cotton lint yield, suggesting that the ‘phosphorus effect' may ultimately reflect how environmentally contingent differences in the allocation of vegetative vs. reproductive investments can provide parallel pathways to equal yields.
Achieving breakthrough science with the blue gene/l supercomputer

The Blue Gene project started in the final months of 1999. Five years later, during the final months of 2004, the first Blue Gene/L machines were being installed at customers. By then, Blue Gene/L had already established itself as the fastest computer in the planet, topping the TOP500 list with the breathtaking speed of over 70 Teraflops. Since the beginning of 2005, many other systems have been installed at customers, the flagship machine at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has greatly increased in size, and Blue Gene/L has established itself as a machine capable of breakthrough science. We here examine why Blue Gene/L is such an effective science machine, and report on some of the more significant research being performed by scientists using Blue Gene/L systems today. We also explain why this is just the beginning, and why there is more excitement ahead of us than behind us in the Blue Gene project.
Design methodology of series DC coupling transformer in a medium-voltage DC amplifier system

The medium-voltage dc amplifier is a controllable dc source for the purpose of testing medium-voltage dc system technologies for shipboard applications. In a medium-voltage dc amplifier system, a dc active filter with a series dc coupling transformer is an integral component of the system required for both steady-state and dynamic voltage injection. This paper describes the design aspects and methodology for the series dc coupling transformer in such a system. The design of the transformer is one of the most critical aspects of this system as it has to withstand large continuous dc current offset without saturating. Based on system performance requirements, design criteria for the transformer is defined and two transformer designs based on two Iron-based magnetic materials are evaluated for a 12 kVA, 300 Vdc laboratory-scale amplifier test bed. An optimal design methodology is also proposed in this paper. Various design compromises have been studied and reported. The practical transformer design considerations and feasibility study for a medium-voltage dc amplifier system are given.
Probing crystallization of calcium oxalate monohydrate and the role of macromolecule additives with in situ atomic force microscopy.

Kidney stones are crystal aggregates, most commonly containing calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) microcrystals as the primary constituent. Macromolecules, specifically proteins rich with anionic side chains, are thought to play an important role in the regulation of COM growth, aggregation, and attachment to cells, all key processes in kidney stone formation. The microscopic events associated with crystal growth on the {010}, {121}, and {100} faces have been examined with in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM). Lattice images of each face reveal two-dimensional unit cells consistent with the COM crystal structure. Each face exhibits hillocks with step sites that can be assigned to specific crystal planes, enabling direct determination of growth rates along specific crystallographic directions. The rates of growth are found to depend on the degree of supersaturation of calcium oxalate in the growth medium, and the growth rates are very sensitive to the manner in which the growth solutions are prepared and ...
Vibrational Mode Effects as a Probe of Inter-channel Coupling in the Reactions of Formaldehyde Cation with Ammonia and Water †

We report the effects of collision energy (E c o l ) and five different H 2 CO + vibrational modes on reaction of H 2 CO + with ND 3 and D 2 O over the center-of-mass E c n l range from 0.1 to 2.1 eV. Properties of various complexes and transition states were also examined computationally. For water, the only reaction is proton transfer (PT), going by a direct mechanism over the entire E c o l range, with a cross section near the collision limit. H 2 CO + vibrational excitation has no effect on reaction with water. Three product channels are observed in reaction with ammonia. Both proton transfer (PT) and charge transfer (CT) have large cross sections over the entire energy range. Hydrogen abstraction by H 2 CO + from ammonia (HA) accounts for <2% of the total product signal but is a mechanistically interesting channel. Both PT and HA go by direct mechanisms over most of the E c o l range, but complex mediation may be important at the lowest energies. All three channels are mode-specifically affected by H 2 CO + vibrational excitation. Vibration controls total reactivity but has essentially no effect on product branching. Charge transfer during reactant approach appears to have a large effect on subsequent PT and HA reactions.
Separability Testing in Production Economics: Comment

Pope and Hallam (PH) proposed a test for indirect separability based on the rank of an appropriately defined matrix involving the bordered Hessian of the production function. This test is interesting and important, but its presentation obscures the main idea because the discussion, in the context of flexible functional forms, is marred by a crucial error. Blackorby, Primont, and Russell showed that a test for weak separability of flexible functional forms imposes strong and unwanted restrictions on a model's structure. After the publication of their paper, the consensus has been that a test for weak separability of flexible functional forms cannot be performed with the available functions. PH refer to this issue by stating: "This (test) moderates in some cases the criticism by Blackorby, Primont, and Russell" (p. 143). The reader is tantalized by this statement, but the rest of the paper does not shed any further light upon it. PH discuss necessary and sufficient rank conditions for indirect separability but present also a lengthy elaboration of a necessary condition. The former set of conditions obviously provides a stronger test, and thus we focus our discussion upon it. Furthermore, PH's necessary rank condition as applied to the empirical example is wrongly stated and is inferior with respect to the stronger test. We think that the contribution of PH can be stated in the following terms: The principal interest in the rank condition rests upon the possibility of testing the necessary and sufficient conditions for indirect separability. When not rejected, PH's rank condition, rank [fxfl](N,, Nf) = 1, implies indirect separability and, at least in two cases (generalized Leontief and quadratic functions), does not imply direct separability. Conversely, (in flexible functional forms), direct separability implies the rank condition for indirect separability, and this is the reason why this second test is subject to the criticism of Blackorby, Primont, and Russell. Thus, the rank condition applied to dual functions is noteworthy. However, its application in the context of flexible functional forms suggests that, for the translog function, its test is equivalent to the separability test originally proposed by Berndt and Christensen while, in the case of the generalized Leontief and quadratic functions, the two tests are substantially different. The numerical example chosen by PH is not suitable for illustrating the working of the necessary and sufficient rank condition which, furthermore, is erroneously implemented. The interesting question, therefore, is, are there other flexible functional forms (aside from the generalized Leontief and quadratic functions) for which the rank condition for indirect separability does not coincide with the conditions for direct separability? An answer to this question is conjectured in the conclusion.
Studying porous materials with krypton-83 NMR spectroscopy.

This report is the first review of 83Kr nuclear magnetic resonance as a new and promising technique for exploring the surfaces of solid materials. In contrast to the spin I = 1/2 nucleus of 129Xe, 83Kr has a nuclear spin of I = 9/2 and therefore possesses a nuclear electric quadrupole moment. Interactions of the quadrupole moment with the electronic environment are modulated by surface adsorption processes and therefore affect the 83Kr relaxation rate and spectral lineshape. These effects are much more sensitive probes for surfaces than the 129Xe chemical shielding and provide unique insights into macroporous materials in which the 129Xe chemical shift is typically of little diagnostic value. The first part of this report reviews the effect of quadrupolar interactions on the 83Kr linewidth in zeolites and also the 83Kr chemical shift behavior that is distinct from that of its 129Xe cousin in some of these materials. The second part reviews hyperpolarized (hp) 83Kr NMR spectroscopy of macroporous materials in which the longitudinal relaxation is typically too slow to allow sufficient averaging of thermally polarized 83Kr NMR signals. The quadrupolar-driven T1 relaxation times of hp 83Kr in these materials are sensitive to surface chemistry, surface-to-volume ratios, coadsorption of other species on surfaces, and surface temperature. Thus, 83Kr T1 relaxation can provide information about surfaces and chemical processes in macroscopic pores and can generate surface-sensitive contrast in hp 83Kr MRI. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Positive effects of brain-based education on teacher performance assessment outcomes

Abstract The primary goal of this project was to improve teacher preparation by helping teachers identify pupils’ strengths, weaknesses, and affinities and by providing appropriate adjustments to instruction when necessary through neurodevelopmental methodology. Using a selected population of teacher candidates who were learning about brain-based education and neurodevelopment (ND) while preparing for the Performance Assessment for California Teachers (PACT), the researchers looked for an opportunity to study the effects of ND methodology on candidates' PACT performance. A grant awarded to elementary, secondary, and special education faculties in an accelerated collaborative teaching (ACT) programme at California State University, Northridge, allowed participants to study certain features of using a specific approach, that is, neurodevelopmental methodology, and the effects of this approach on teaching and learning, including teacher performance assessment results. Fifteen target courses in the accelerate...
Comparison of Behaviors of Suspected Sexually Abused and Nonsexually Abused Preschool Children Using Anatomical Dolls

Using anatomical dolls, the play behaviors of nine sexually abused preschool children (five males, four females), ranging in age from 3 to 5 years, were compared with nine preschool children for whom there was no suspicion of sexual abuse and who were matched on the basis of age, gender, race, family status, and socioeconomic status. There was no significant difference between the two groups on explicit sexual behavior (vaginal, oral, and anal intercourse with thrusting motions between the dolls or between the child and the dolls and masturbation by the child). The groups were significantly [t(8)=2.19, p <.05; Wilcoxon W=6, p <.05) different when behaviors with suspicious sexual implication were combined with explicit sexual behaviors. There were no differences between the groups on measures of nonsexual behavior. The occurrence of the suspicious sexual behaviors is discussed and reviews of previous doll research and physical evidence of child sexual abuse are provided.
Playing games before an audience: Social facilitation or choking

In this study we examined video game performance under audience scrutiny to see if social facilitation or choking effects would be obtained. Social facilitation theory suggests that good players would do better and poor players would do worse under audience pressure and that all players would do better on a simple or maximizing game and worse on a complex or optimizing game under audience pressure. Choking research indicates that audience pressure would produce poorer performance on both games. College student players played either a simple game, Pinball, or a complex game, Tetris, unobserved and then as the experimenter watched. Results showed that good players performed worse and bad players played better on the simple game under audience pressure. All participants played worse under audience pressure on the complex game. The choking approach accounts for these results better than social facilitation theory does.